Managers of most businesses want high profits in order to pay high dividends(红利)to their investors．For this reason，they aim to keep costs as low as possible .They also want to set high prices to gain high returns．But competition within the industry often prevents them from doing so．Generally；a business will not increase the price of its output if its competitors will not increase their prices．If a business sets its prices higher than those of its competitors，many of its customers will buy the output of its competitors．
An important decision managers make is their choice of the input-mix in what combination of capital(资本)，labor．and raw materials to use in production．The goal is to keep production costs as low as possible．If labor costs are high，for example，a firm may spend money in automatic machinery so that fewer workers are needed to complete the same task．If labor is cheap，the company may decide to employ extra workers instead of buying a machine to do the job．The combination of inputs that permits a firm to produce its goods or services at the lowest possible cost without reducing quality is called the most productive input-mix
The goal of keeping production costs low also affects a company’s choice of location．The resources an industry needs and the customers it serves are rarely close to each other．As a result，a business must transport inputs，outputs，or both．A business also tries to keep transportation costs as low as possible．
Transportation costs are based on weight as well as on distance．The location a company selects may thus depend on whether the company’s product is heavier or lighter than the materials used to make it．The soft drink industry，which adds water to other ingredients to make its products，is an example of an industry that produces weight-gaining products．Soft drink companies choose locations near their customers．The paper industry is an example of industries that produce weight losing products．Many such industries are near sources of rataT materials．
57．What do businesses choose to do about the prices of their products in competition?
A．To set higher prices． B．To leave the prices unchanged．
C．To offer lower prices． D To keep the prices adjustable．
58．The underlined phrase “the most productive input-mix” means mixing inputs ．
A．with goods or services sold at the lowest possible prices
B．by selling goods or services at the lowest possible prices
C．to produce goods or services at the lowest possible cost
D to produce quality goods or services at the lowest possible cost
59．Why is a company usually very careful about choosing its location?
A．Because the materials it needs are rather far away．
B．Because the customers it serves are not so close．
C．Because transportation costs and the distance are closely related．
D Because both production and transportation costs are very high．
60．The soft drink industry and the paper making industry are used as examples because
A．they share a lot of things in common
B they are both only making lower profits
C．the transportation costs of their products are the same
D they are quite different when considering the locations
DDCD
政治经济类文章的概念：
要做好这类阅读，平时就要注意了解国内外发生的政治经济大事，掌握一定背景知识，对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解，还要扩展这方面的词汇。阅读这类文章，要抓住文章的核心，即文章整体和各段主要在说什么，也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系。
如何备考政治经济类阅读理解题：
【题型说明】政治经济类阅读文章是高考常选材料之一。该类文章时代气息浓郁，语言鲜活，但熟字新义词、超纲词及专业词语多，长句、难句多。政治类文章大多数是同学们感性趣的内容，读起来倒有似曾相识的感觉，经济类文章读起来就像是雾里看花，文章看完，一头雾水。再加之这类文章的命题侧重于词义猜测、推理判断和文章主旨，同学们对这类题材是望而生畏。
【备考策略】建立心理优势。针对不同体裁的文章，我们要采取相应的阅读方法和技巧。政治类文章多采用记叙文形式，我们可采取“顺读法”，以便抓关键语句，领会文章主旨；而经济类文章则多采用说明文形式，我们则可以采取“逆读法”，先读试题，再从文章中查找有用信息。若遇到的确难读的材料。千万不用着急，因为你觉得难，其他人也一定是同感。在高考前，我们就要有这种心理准备，高考试卷肯定有一、两篇难以阅读的材料。不过，我们平时可以有意识地从报刊杂志上找一些较难的阅读材料来阅读，以培养自己迎难而上的心理素质。
【答题方法】
1、寻找主干：
根据英语中五种基本句型结构，把句子中的主语、谓语、宾语、表语等主要成分找出来，其他成分如定语、状语、补语等则易于理解。找到了句子主干，句子的意思至少明白了一半。
2、剔除从句：
在一个长句中可能会出现若干个从句，在理解时，如果把各个从句剔除出来单独理解，然后把大意拼凑起来，整个长句的意思就会明白六、七分。
3、辨别分句：
一个长句如果是由几个并列、转折、递进、对比关系的分句组成，句中往往有表示这些分句关系的连接词，只要能弄清楚分句和分句之间的逻辑关系，再把各层分句的意思加以连贯，整个长句的句意基本上能跃然脑中。
4、寻找关键词：
如果一个句子看完，一点句意的感觉也没有，下下策就是抓住句中的关键词，通过关键词大体弄懂这个长句的意思。
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