48. What does the passage tell us about American workers in an era of transformation?
- A. They feel ignored by politicians.
- B. They feel increasingly vulnerable.
- C. They keep adapting to the changes.
- D. They keep complaining but to no avail.
答案：B
答案句：However, it's not just factories that are seeing losses-software and information technology are also having a dramatic impact on jobs most people think are secure from the forces of a rapidly-changing economy. Something transformative is happening in America that is having an adverse effect on American families. Whether policymakers and politicians admit it or not, workers have made clear their feelings about their economic insecurity and desire to keep good jobs in America.
参考译文：然而，遭受损失的不仅仅是工厂——软件和信息技术也对那些大多数人认为在快速变化的经济力量下安全的工作产生了巨大影响。美国正在发生某种变革性的事情，对美国家庭产生了不利影响。无论政策制定者和政客们承认与否，工人们已经明确表达了他们对经济不安全的感受以及在美国保住好工作的愿望。
定位线索：题干“American workers in an era of transformation”→答案句取自第3段“Something transformative is happening”和“workers have made clear their feelings”；文中“economic insecurity”对应选项B“They feel increasingly vulnerable”（他们感到越来越脆弱）。
解析：题干问在变革时代美国工人的情况。答案句指出工人明确表达了“经济不安全”的感受，这与“感到脆弱”（vulnerable）同义，对应D项。A项“感到被政客忽视”原文说政客“admit it or not”（承认与否），工人感受未被忽视；B项“不断适应变化”原文未提及工人适应行为；C项“不断抱怨但无济于事”原文只说工人“make clear their feelings”，未说抱怨无效。
49. What does the author think of automation?
- A. It will have the same impact as industrialization.
- B. It provides sensible companies with alternatives.
- C. Its alleged positive effects are doubtful.
- D. Its detrimental effects are unavoidable.
答案：C
答案句：Resisting automation is futile: it is as inevitable as industrialization was before it. I sincerely hope that those who assert that automation will make us more effective and pave the way for new occupations are right, but the reality of automation's detrimental effects on workers makes me skeptical.
参考译文：抵制自动化是徒劳的：它就像之前的工业化一样不可避免。我真诚地希望那些断言自动化将使我们更有效率并为新职业铺平道路的人是对的，但自动化对工人的有害影响的现实让我持怀疑态度。
定位线索：题干“author think of automation”→答案句取自第4段“I sincerely hope...but...makes me skeptical”；文中“skeptical”对应选项C“Its alleged positive effects are doubtful”（其所谓的积极效果值得怀疑）。
解析：题干问作者对自动化的看法。答案句中作者先表达希望自动化积极作用的说法是对的，但随即用“but”转折，指出“现实让我怀疑”，明确表达了对自动化积极效果持怀疑态度，对应C项。A项“与工业化影响相同”原文只说“不可避免”（inevitable），未说影响相同；B项“为明智公司提供替代方案”是支持者观点，作者未认可；D项“其有害影响不可避免”作者只说抵制徒劳，未说有害影响不可避免。