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  3. This week's decision by the GMB union to

This week's decision by the GMB union to

考试题库2022-08-02  54
问题 This week's decision by the GMB union to bring a legal case against firms delivering for Amazon,the rcommerce giant,throws into sharp relief how much the modern economy has been stretched to benefit a monopolistic form of tech-capitalism.On the surface,the action is about employment law:it argues that couriers working for three delivery companies are not entrepreneurs working for themselves who contract their labour to anyone willing to pay,but are in fact employees of Amazon's latent delivery and logistics network.If the trade union is right,then these couriers should be treated as staff and paid the minimum wage,as well as sick and holiday pay.Amazon has established itself as an essential part of the internet economy and its dominance-its sheer scale and breadth-has been enabled in part by privatising profit and socialising losses.The firm seems to be firmly establishing a model of cheap-labour doorstep delivery by recognising an easily divided workforce is more easily conquered.This model may also one day compete with the Royal Mail;Amazon is reportedly planning to launch its own delivery service to rival the state-owned US Postal Service.Amazon's skill is not just in technology but also in finance.Last year it generated UK sales of￡9bn,a quarter more than the previous 12 months-while pre-tax profits halved to just￡24m.Its effective UK profit margin is just 0.3%.an indication perhaps of its low pricing strategy.In revolutionising e-commerce the company has delivered enormous benefits to consumers:but at what cost?Surely it is morally right that large employers are accountable for the treatment of workers down the supply chain,so long as they are economically dependent on them.Amazon might think differently.The tech giant wants privileged treatment because it thinks only corporate monopolies,with their economies of scale and ability to innovate,can promote growth.This view should be resisted.Amazon's service ensures consumers are better off,but undue focus on this neglects the interests of workers,rival entrepreneurs and voters.This is why the spirit of employment law must be honoured so Amazon shoulders the responsibility（and the cost）for contracted workers,or works out how to compel its suppliers to do so.Amazon clearly would like to control the pipes of capitalism,drawing off consumer demand for itself when it is lucrative to do so and charging others for use of its network.Amazon's website is the dominant platform for online retail sales.Whether it is cloud computing or what ebooks are published,Amazon wants business to be done in arenas where it sets the rules.This i.s bad for democracy.Commerce ought to reside in markets governed by regulations set by democratic political process not those chosen by the world's richest men.Which of the following is true about Amazon,according to Paragraph 3?A.It saw a sharp rise in profits last year.B.lts revolution comes at the expense of consumers.C.Its growth owes a lot to supply chain workers.D.lts business declines due to the low price strategy.
选项 A.It saw a sharp rise in profits last year.
B.lts revolution comes at the expense of consumers.
C.Its growth owes a lot to supply chain workers.
D.lts business declines due to the low price strategy.
答案 C
解析 第三段末句作者表明看法：大企业只要在经济上依靠底层供应链工人，就得对其负责，反向表明亚马逊的发展很大程度上依赖这些廉价快递员，以牺牲其应得利益为代价，故C.正确。[解题技巧]A.与首句“税前利润减半（pre-tax profits halved to just.…）”矛盾，注意此处强调的是销售额增长（即市场占有率增长）．而非利润大增，下句也解释了原因：低价促销产品。B.把牺牲对象“廉价劳工”偷换为“消费者”，与has delivered enormous benefits to consumers（已大大让利于消费者）矛盾。D.从“利润减半”主观推出“业务下滑”，事实上光英国的年销售额就比去年总额还多四分之一。
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