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1、考研英语暑期高强特训班·阅读教程2003-Text3①Inrecentyears,railroadshavebeencombiningwitheachother,mergingintosupersystems,causingheightenedconcernsaboutmonopoly.②Asrecentlyas1995,thetopfourrailroadsaccountedforunder70percentofthetotalton-milesmovedbyrails.③Nextyear,afteraseriesofmergersis
2、completed,justfourrailroadswillcontrolwellover90percentofallthefreightmovedbymajorrailcarriers.①Supportersofthenewsupersystemsarguethatthesemergerswillallowforsubstantialcostreductionsandbettercoordinatedservice.②Anythreatofmonopoly,theyargue,isremovedbyfiercecompetitionf
3、romtrucks.③Butmanyshipperscomplainthatforheavybulkcommoditiestravelinglongdistances,suchascoal,chemicals,andgrain,truckingistoocostlyandtherailroadsthereforehavethembythethroat.①Thevastconsolidationwithintherailindustrymeansthatmostshippersareservedbyonlyonerailcompany.②R
4、ailroadstypicallychargesuch“captive”shippers20to30percentmorethantheydowhenanotherrailroadiscompetingforthebusiness.③Shipperswhofeeltheyarebeingoverchargedhavetherighttoappealtothefederalgovernment’sSurfaceTransportationBoardforraterelief,buttheprocessisexpensive,timecons
5、uming,andwillworkonlyintrulyextremecases.①Railroadsjustifyratediscriminationagainstcaptiveshippersonthegroundsthatinthelongrunitreduceseveryone’scost.②Ifrailroadschargedallcustomersthesameaveragerate,theyargue,shipperswhohavetheoptionofswitchingtotrucksorotherformsoftrans
6、portationwoulddoso,leavingremainingcustomerstoshoulderthecostofkeepinguptheline.③It’stheorytowhichmanyeconomistssubscribe,butinpracticeitoftenleavesrailroadsinthepositionofdeterminingwhichcompanieswillflourishandwhichwillfail.④“Dowereallywantrailroadstobethearbitersofwhow
7、insandwholosesinthemarketplace?”asksMartinBercovici,aWashingtonlawyerwhofrequentlyrepresentsshipper.①Manycaptiveshippersalsoworrytheywillsoonbehitwitharoundofhugerateincreases.②Therailroadindustryasawhole,despiteitsbrighteningfortunes,stilldoesnotearnenoughtocoverthecosto
8、fthecapitalitmustinvesttokeepupwithitssurgingtraffic.③Yetrailroadscontinuetoborrowbillionstoacqu
