Mailcarrierswillbedeliveringsomegoodnewsandsomebadnewst...
问题详情:
Mail carriers will be delivering some good news and some bad news this week.
The bad news: Stamp prices are expected to rise 2 cents in May to 41 cents, the Postal Regulatory Commission announced yesterday. The good news: With the introduction of a “forever stamp,” it may be the last time Americans have to use annoying 2-or-3-cent stamps to make up postage differences.
Beginning in May, people would be able to purchase the stamps in booklets of 20 at the regular rate of a first-class stamp. As the name implies, “forever stamps” will keep their first-class mailing value forever, even when the postage rate goes up.
The new “forever stamp” is the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) answer to the complaints about frequent rate increases. The May increases will be the fifth in a decade. Postal rates have risen because of inflation (通货膨胀), competition from online bill paying, and the rising costs of employee benefits, including healthcare, says Mark Saunders, a spokesman for USPS.
The USPS expects some financial gain from sales of the “forever stamp” and the savings from not printing as many 2-or-3-cent stamps. “It’s not your grandfather’s stamp,” says Mr. Saunders. “It could be your great-grandchildren’s stamp.”
Other countries, including Canada, England, and Finland use similar stamps.
Don Schilling, who has collected stamps for 50 years, says he’s interested in the public’s reaction. “This is an entirely new class of stamps.” Mr. Schilling says. He adds that he’ll buy the stamps because he will be able to use them for a long period of time, not because they could make him rich — the volume printed will be too large for collectors. “We won’t be able to send our kids to college on these,” he says, laughing.
The USPS board of governors has yet to accept the Postal Regulatory Commission’s decision, but tends to follow its recommendations. No plans have been announced yet for the design of the stamps.
1. The main purpose of introducing a “forever stamp” is ______.
A. to reduce the cost of printing 2-or-3-cent stamps
B. to help save the consumers’ cost on first-class mailing
C. to respond to the complaints about rising postal rates
D. to compete with online bill paying
2. By saying “It could be your great-grandchildren’s stamp”, Mr. Saunders means that forever stamps ________.
A. could be collected by one’s great-grandchildren
B. might be very precious in great-grandchildren’s hands
C. might have been inherited from one’s great-grandfathers
D. could be used by one’s great-grandchildren even decades later
3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. The investment in forever stamps will bring adequate reward.
B. America will be the first country to issue forever stamps.
C. The design of the “forever stamp” remains to be revealed.
D. 2-or-3-cent stamps will no longer be printed in the future.
4. What can be concluded from the passage?
A. With forever stamps, there will be no need to worry about rate changes.
B. Postal workers will benefit most from the sales of forever stamps.
C. The inflation has become a threat to the sales of first-class stamps.
D. New interest will be aroused in collecting forever stamps.
【回答】
CDCA
知识点:阅读理解
题型:未分类
-
下列对诗句分析不正确的一项是( )A.“关关雎鸠,在河之洲”两句运用比喻手法,说明淑女、君子在河滩幽会,营造...
问题详情:下列对诗句分析不正确的一项是()A.“关关雎鸠,在河之洲”两句运用比喻手法,说明淑女、君子在河滩幽会,营造出一种幽静的氛围。B.“参差荇菜”一句反复使用,增强了诗歌的节奏感,也展现了《诗经》回环往复、一唱三叹的特*。C.“悠哉悠哉,辗转反侧”以行动来反映君...
-
早春二月的某一天,A市的平均气温为-5℃,B市的平均气温为3℃,则当天B比A市的平均气温高
问题详情:早春二月的某一天,A市的平均气温为-5℃,B市的平均气温为3℃,则当天B比A市的平均气温高____________℃.【回答】8提示:3-(-5)=8.知识点:有理数的加减法题型:填空题...
-
读下图,回答3—4题3.水循环中A.①环节是水汽输送,中纬西风是其主要动力B.②环节是降水,主要集中在春、秋季...
问题详情:读下图,回答3—4题3.水循环中A.①环节是水汽输送,中纬西风是其主要动力B.②环节是降水,主要集中在春、秋季节C.③环节是地表径流,径流量季节和年际变化大D.④环节蒸发的水汽,大部分被输送到陆地上空4.关于图中*、乙、*、丁四处的叙述,正确的是A.*处为向斜山,主要由...
-
可吸入颗粒物(指空气动力学直径小于10微米的颗粒物,表示为PM10。PM2.5是指大气中直径小于或等于2.5微...
问题详情:可吸入颗粒物(指空气动力学直径小于10微米的颗粒物,表示为PM10。PM2.5是指大气中直径小于或等于2.5微米的颗粒物,也称为可入肺颗粒物)是*市大气的一种主要污染物,它们虽然在大气中的含量很少,但是它对环境和人体的危害都很大。回答3-4题。3.读*市2003年1月16...
相关文章
- Itsurprisedme—everytimeIsawJoe,hewassmiling.Itdidn’t
- Hostess:Goodevening,andwelcometothisweek'sBusinessWorld...
- SirStevenRedgrave—Winnerof5OlympicGoldMedals“In1997Iwas...
- 阅读理解MrGreenandhisfamilydecidedtoliveinBeijingfortwoweek...
- Someoftheworld'smostwell-knownbrands,includingEricsson,...
- —We'redoingreallywellthisterm.Webelievewewillwin!—
- 阅读理解。Mr.Brownis80yearsold.Everymorninghegoesforawalkint...
- 单项选择。Wedidverywellinthesoccergame.MissGreen
- Asisknowntoall,weliveinaworldofgerms(细菌).Itisimpossible...
- HowtoBeaWinnerSirStevenRedgraveWinnerof5OlympicGoldMeda...