21. The author holds that this year's increase in rail passenger fares
- A. has kept pace with inflation.
- B. is a big surprise to commuters.
- C. remains an unreasonable measure.
- D. will ease train operators' burden.
答案：C
答案句：It has become a grimly reliable annual ritual: every January the cost of travelling by train rises, imposing a significant extra burden on those who have no option but to use the rail network to get to work or otherwise. This year’s rise, an average of 2.7 per cent, may be a fraction lower than last year’s, but it is still well above the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation.
参考译文：这已成为一种令人沮丧的、年年如期而至的惯例：每年一月火车旅行成本上涨，给那些别无选择只能依靠铁路网通勤或出行的人带来了沉重的额外负担。今年平均2.7%的涨幅可能比去年略低，但仍远高于官方消费者价格指数（CPI）衡量的通胀水平。
定位线索：题干“this year's increase”→答案句“This year's rise”；文中“imposing a significant extra burden”、“well above the official Consumer Price Index”对应选项C“remains an unreasonable measure”（不合理措施）；“grimly reliable annual ritual”体现负面态度。
解析：题干问作者对今年票价上涨的态度。答案句指出涨价是“grimly reliable annual ritual”（令人沮丧的惯例），且“imposing a significant extra burden”（施加沉重负担），涨幅“well above”通胀，这些负面表述直接推出作者认为涨价不合理，对应C。A项“与通胀同步”与原文“well above”矛盾；B项“对通勤者是大惊喜”与原文负面态度相反；D项“减轻运营商负担”无中生有。
22. The stockbroker in Paragraph 2 is used to stand for
- A. car drivers.
- B. rail travelers.
- C. local investors.
- D. ordinary taxpayers.
答案：B
答案句：Why, the argument goes, should a car-driving pensioner from Lincolnshire have to subsidise the daily commute of a stockbroker from Surrey? Equally, there is a sense that the travails of commuters in the South East, many of whom will face among the biggest rises, have received too much attention compared to those who must endure the relatively poor infrastructure of the Midlands and the North.
参考译文：有人辩称，为什么林肯郡开车的养老金领取者要补贴萨里郡股票经纪人的日常通勤？同样，有一种观点认为，东南部通勤者的艰辛（其中许多人将面临最大涨幅）与中部和北部那些必须忍受相对较差基础设施的人相比，受到了过多关注。
定位线索：题干“The stockbroker in Paragraph 2”→答案句“a stockbroker from Surrey”；文中“daily commute”对应选项B“rail travelers”（铁路乘客）；“car-driving pensioner”是反例，“subsidise”表明股票经纪人是铁路使用者。
解析：题干问股票经纪人的例子代表什么。答案句中股票经纪人“daily commute”（日常通勤）且被养老金领取者“subsidise”（补贴），说明他是铁路乘客，对应B。例子本身不是答案，其前的观点句“cost...should be borne by those who use it”（成本应由使用者承担）才是关键，股票经纪人是“those who use it”的代表。A“汽车司机”是养老金领取者的特征，偷换概念；C“本地投资者”、D“普通纳税人”均无中生有。
23. It is indicated in Paragraph 3 that train operators
- A. are offering compensation to commuters.
- B. are trying to repair relations with the unions.
- C. have failed to provide an adequate service.
- D. have suffered huge losses owing to the strikes.
答案：C
答案句：It is all very well train operators trumpeting the improvements they are making to the network, but passengers should be able to expect a basic level of service for the substantial sums they are now paying to travel. The responsibility for the latest wave of strikes rests on the unions. However, there is a strong case that those who have been worst affected by industrial action should receive compensation for the disruption they have suffered.
参考译文：火车运营商吹嘘他们对网络所做的改进固然很好，但乘客现在支付了巨额费用，理应期待基本的服务水平。最新一波罢工的责任在于工会。然而，有充分理由认为，那些受罢工影响最严重的人应该因其遭受的干扰而获得补偿。
定位线索：题干“Paragraph 3”→答案句取自第3段；文中“passengers should be able to expect a basic level of service”对应选项C“have failed to provide an adequate service”（未能提供足够服务）；“trumpeting the improvements”与“but”转折暗示实际服务不足。
解析：题干问第3段暗示运营商如何。答案句用“It is all very well...but”结构，先承认运营商吹嘘改进，但转折指出乘客应期待“basic level of service”，暗示当前服务未达基本水平，对应C。A项“提供补偿”与原文“should receive compensation”（应获得，未实现）不符；B项“修复与工会关系”无中生有；D项“因罢工遭受巨大损失”原文未提运营商损失。
24. If unable to calm down passengers, the railways may have to face
- A. the loss of investment.
- B. the collapse of operations.
- C. a reduction of revenue.
- D. a change of ownership.
答案：D
答案句：The threat of nationalisation may have been seen off for now, but it will return with a vengeance if the justified anger of passengers is not addressed in short order.
参考译文：国有化的威胁目前可能已被化解，但如果乘客的合理愤怒不能迅速得到解决，它将猛烈地卷土重来。
定位线索：题干“If unable to calm down passengers”→答案句“if the justified anger of passengers is not addressed”；文中“nationalisation...return with a vengeance”对应选项D“a change of ownership”（所有权变更，即国有化）。
解析：题干问若无法安抚乘客，铁路可能面临什么。答案句明确说若乘客愤怒未解决，“nationalisation”将“return with a vengeance”（猛烈回归），国有化意味着所有权变更，对应D“a change of ownership”。A项“the loss of investment”无中生有；B项“the collapse of operations”夸大了后果，原文只说国有化回归；C项“a reduction of revenue”无中生有。
25. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
- A. Who Are to Blame for the Strikes?
- B. Constant Complaining Doesn't Work
- C. Can Nationalisation Bring Hope?
- D. Ever-rising Fares Aren't Sustainable
答案：D
答案句：How can Britain’s train operators possibly justify yet another increase to rail passenger fares? It has become a grimly reliable annual ritual … Successive governments have permitted such increases on the grounds that the cost of investing in and running the rail network should be borne by those who use it … However, over the past 12 months, those commuters have also experienced some of the worst rail strikes in years … The Government has pledged to change the law to introduce a minimum service requirement … The threat of nationalisation may have been seen off for now, but it will return with a vengeance if the justified anger of passengers is not addressed in short order.
参考译文：英国火车运营商如何能证明再次提高铁路乘客票价是合理的？这已成为一种令人沮丧的、年年如期而至的惯例……历届政府允许此类涨价，理由是投资和运营铁路网的成本应由使用者而非普通纳税人承担……然而，在过去12个月里，这些通勤者也经历了多年来最严重的铁路罢工……政府已承诺修改法律，引入最低服务要求……国有化的威胁目前可能已被化解，但如果乘客的合理愤怒不能迅速得到解决，它将猛烈地卷土重来。
定位线索：题干“best title”→全文主题；首段“justify yet another increase”与“significant extra burden”、末段“passengers will not be willing to pay more indefinitely”对应选项D“Ever-rising Fares Aren't Sustainable”（不断上涨的票价不可持续）。
解析：题干问最佳标题。全文围绕票价年年上涨给乘客造成负担展开，首段“yet another increase”“significant extra burden”，末段“passengers will not be willing to pay more indefinitely”，核心是不断上涨的票价不可持续，对应D。A“Who Are to Blame for the Strikes?”只涉及第3段罢工，范围过窄；B“Constant Complaining Doesn't Work”与原文支持乘客愤怒的态度相反；C“Can Nationalisation Bring Hope?”仅涵盖末段国有化威胁，非主旨。