Last weekend Kyle MacDonald in Montreal threw a party to celebrate the fact that he got his new home in exchange for a red paper clip. Starting a year ago, MacDonald bartered the clip for increasingly valuable stuff, including a camp stove and free rent in a Phoenix flat. Having announced his aim (the house) in advance, MacDonald likely got a boost from techies eager to see the Internet pass this daring test of its networking power. “My whole motto (座右铭) was ‘Start small, think big, and have fun’, ” says MacDonald, 26, “I really kept my effort on the creative side rather than the business side.”
Yet as odd as the MacDonald exchange was, barter is now big business on the Net. This year more than 400,000 companies worldwide will exchange some $10 billion worth of goods and services on a growing number of barter sites. These Web sites allow companies to trade products for a virtual currency, which they can use to buy goods from other members. In Iceland, garment-maker Kapusalan sells a third of its output on the booming Vidskiptanetid exchange, earning virtual money that it uses to buy machinery and pay part of employee salaries. The Troc-services exchange in France offers more than 4,600 services, from math lessons to ironing.
This is not a primitive barter system. By creating currencies, the Internet removes a major barrier—what Bob Meyer, publisher of Barter News, calls “the double coincidence of wants.” That is, two parties once not only had to find each other, but also an exchange of goods that both desired. Now, they can price the deal in virtual currency.
Barter also helps firms make use of idle capacity. For example, advertising is “hugely bartered” because many media, particularly on the Web can supply new ad space at little cost. Moreover, Internet ads don’t register in industry-growth statistics, because many exchanges are arranged outside the formal exchanges.
Like eBay, most barter sites allow members to “grade” trading partners for honesty quality and so on.. Barter exchanges can allow firms in countries with hyperinflation or nontradable currencies to enter global trades. Next year, a nonprofit exchange called Quick Lift Two (QL2) plans to open in Nairobi, offering barter deals to 38,000 Kenyan farmers in remote areas. Two small planes will deliver the goods. QL2 director Gacii Waciuma says the farmers are excited to be “liberated from corrupt middlemen.” For them, barter evokes a bright future, not a precapitalist past.
1.The word “techies” (Line 4, Para 1) probably refers to those who are（ ）.
2.Many people may have deliberately helped Kyle because they （ ）.
3.The Internet barter system relies heavily on （ ）.
4.It is implies that Internet advertisements can help （ ）.
5.Which of the follow is true of QL2 according to the author?
问题1选项
A.afraid of technology
B.skilled in technology
C.ignorant of technology
D.incompetent in technology
问题2选项
A.were impressed by his creativity
B.were eager to identify with his motto
C.liked his goal announced in advance
D.hoped to prove the power of the Internet
问题3选项
A.the size of barter sties
B.the use of virtual currency
C.the quality of goods or services
D.the location of trading companies]
问题4选项
A.companies make more profit
B.companies do formal exchanges
C.media register in statistics
D.media grade barter sites
问题5选项
A.It is criticized for doing business in a primitive way.
B.It aims to deal with hyperinflation in some countries.
C.It helps get rid of middlemen in trade and exchange.
D.It is intended to evaluate the performance of trading partners.
第1题:B
第2题:D
第3题:B
第4题:A
第5题:C
第1题:
【选项释义】
The word “techies” (Line 4, Para 1) probably refers to those who are ____. “技术人员”一词（第4行，第1段）可能指的是那些_____的人。
A. afraid of technology A. 害怕技术
B. skilled in technology B. 技术娴熟
C. ignorant of technology C. 对技术一无所知
D. incompetent in technology D. 技术不称职
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】根据题干中的techies一词可直接定位至第一段第三句。根据techies之后的后置定语eager to see the Internet...of its networking power可推断，techies应该是极其关注网络或对网络感兴趣的人。从之前的boost（帮助，支持）可进一步推断，techies能够为麦克唐纳的网上易货交易提供帮助和支持，那也就意味着他们熟悉网络技术。由此可见，B选项符合题意，故为正确答案。
【干扰项排除】
A、C、D选项原文没有提及，属于无中生有。
第2题:
【选项释义】
Many people may have deliberately helped Kyle because they ______. 许多人可能故意帮助凯尔，因为他们_____。
A. were impressed by his creativity A. 对他的创造力印象深刻
B. were eager to identify with his motto B. 渴望认同他的座右铭
C. liked his goal announced in advance C. 喜欢他提前宣布的目标
D. hoped to prove the power of the Internet D. 希望证明互联网的力量
【考查点】事实细节题
【解题思路】根据题干信息定位至第一段第三句。该句中MacDonald likely got a boost from techies是对题干中Many people may have deliberately helped Kyle的同义转述，而该句后半部分则道出了其原因：因为他们渴望看到互联网能够通过这一关于其网络功能的大胆测试，即证明网络的巨大力量。D选项是对文中eager to see the Internet pass this daring test of its networking power的同义转述，故正确。
【干扰项排除】
A项文中没有提及，属于无中生有；
B项和C项问题是一样的，虽然在定位句中看到相关的信息，但与题目无关，属于出处错位。
第3题:
【选项释义】
The Internet barter system relies heavily on_____. 互联网易货系统在很大程度上依赖于_____。
A. the size of barter sties A. 易货交易的规模
B. the use of virtual currency B. 虚拟货币的使用
C. the quality of goods or services C. 商品或服务的质量
D. the location of trading companies D. 贸易公司所在地
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】根据题干信息barter system可定位至第三段的首句。接着往后阅读，发现这一段围绕着currency（货币）展开。根据三段可知最后一句可知“人们可借由虚拟货币为交易定价，实现以货易货。”由此可见，虚拟货币是网络易货交易所依赖的交易媒介。综上所述，B选项符合题意，故正确。
【干扰项排除】
A、D选项原文没有提及，属于无中生有；
C项在第二段的第二句有提及，但与题干无关，属于出处错位。
第4题:
【选项释义】
It is implies that Internet advertisements can help_____. 这意味着互联网广告可以帮助_____。
A. companies make more profit A. 公司盈利更多
B. companies do formal exchanges B. 公司进行正式交流
C. media register in statistics C. 统计中的媒体注册
D. media grade barter sites D. 媒体级易货网站
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】根据题干关键词advertising（广告）可定位至第四段第二句。该句以广告业为例，说明网络广告以空闲位置来交换利润。该例证是为了论证首句的观点：易货交易能帮助公司利用闲置的生产力。言下之意，网络广告能够帮助公司利用闲置生产力来获得利润，因此A选项符合题意，为正确选项。
【干扰项排除】
B、C项可以在第四段最后一句找到信息，但根据“Internet ads don’t register in industry-growth statistics, because many exchanges are arranged outside the formal exchanges.”（互联网广告没有在行业增长统计中登记，因为许多交易安排在正式交易之外。）其中的否定可以判断B、C项是错误的，属于反向干扰。
D选项在第五段第一句有提及，但与题干无关，属于出处错误。
第5题:
【选项释义】
Which of the follow is true of QL2 according to the author? 根据作者的说法，以下哪一项对于QL2是正确的？
A. It is criticized for doing business in a primitive way A. 人们批评它做生意的方式很原始
B. It aims to deal with hyperinflation in some countries B. 它旨在应对一些国家的恶性通货膨胀
C. It helps get rid of middlemen in trade and exchange C. 它有助于摆脱贸易和交换中的中间商
D. It is intended to evaluate the performance of trading partners D. 其目的是评估贸易伙伴的业绩
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】据题干信息QL2可定位至第五段第五句。该句指出，农户对于能够“摆脱奸猾的中间商”感到非常兴奋，此外选项中的get rid of是对原文中be liberated from的同义转述，换言之，QL2提供的易货交易可以让农户“摆脱奸猾的中间商”。可见，C选项与原文的表述一致，故C选项为正确答案。
【干扰项排除】
A、D选项原文没有提及，属于无中生有；
B项在第五段的第二句有涉及，“Barter exchanges can allow firms in countries with hyperinflation or nontradable currencies to enter global trades.”（易货交易可以允许恶性通货膨胀或不可交易货币国家的公司进入全球贸易）与选项所说的解决国家的通货膨胀不符合，属于曲解原文。
