Apple products are designed to say something about their owners. They also tell you something about the countries in which they

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问题     Apple products are designed to say something about their owners. They also tell you something about the countries in which they are sold. Latin America’s allure as a consumer market was underlined on February 15th, when the technology firm opened its first retail store on the continent, in Rio de Janeiro. Apple wants a bigger slice of the region’s smartphone market, which has been growing faster than any region outside Asia. But the glass screen of the iPhone 5s, Apple’s flagship smar-tphone, also reflects Latin America’s economic diversity.
    Start with Brazil, the region’s biggest consumer market. Despite slow economic growth, Apple chose to plant its flag there for a reason. The country is among the top five markets for smartphones in the world. Last year was the first when more smartphones were sold in Brazil than traditional mobile phones, according to Abinee, an electronics-industry association: it was also the year when tablet sales overtook those of desktop computers. As many as 1,700 people queued up to be among the first on Apple’s Rio premises.
    iPhones are beyond the reach of most people in all the countries of Latin America, but the sticker shock is particularly striking in Brazil. A 16GB iPhone 5s costs 2,519 reais($1,076), compared with an average monthly income of just under 2,000 reais in the main metropolitan regions. That makes Brazil the dearest, in dollar terms, of the countries where Apple has stores: the tax-inclusive price of a 16 GB iPhone 5 s in the United States is around $700.
    The fault lies with the infamous custo Brasil, the high cost of doing business in the country. The high price of the iPhone 5s is largely due to tariffs and state and federal taxes on imports, says Luis Fernandez of Deloitte. He calculates that a gizmo which a foreign supplier sells for 1,000 reais could end up being resold at 2,017 reais, with taxes amounting to 900 reais, or 45% , of that sum. Brazil’s government has introduced tax incentives for companies ready to assemble gadgets in the country. But even then, the custo Brasil hits home: iPads and older iPhones assembled locally still cost more than they do in the United States, thanks to high labour costs and expensive commercial rents.
According to Paragraph 2, which one of the following is true?

选项 A、Most Brazilians prefer iPad to desktop computer.
B、Apple chose Brazil because of its strong economy.
C、The prospect of smartphones in Brazil is promising.
D、Smartphones have dominated Brazil’s market for years.

答案C

解析 根据题干定位到第二段。选项[A]对应的是该段倒数第二句后半部分:it was alsothe year when tablet sales oveaook those of desktop computers.其中tablet“平板电脑”,也就是该项的iPad之类的产品,该句大意为“这也是平板电脑销量第一次超过台式机。”由此可见该项Most Brazilians prefer iPad to desktop computer.“大多数巴西人选择iPad(指平板电脑)而不选择台式机”的表达错误。选项[B]的strong economy与原文第二句的slow economicgrowth完全相悖,故该项错误。选项[C]对应该段第三句:The country is among the top fivemarkets for smartphones in the world.由此可见该项The prospect of smartphones in Brazil ispromising.“巴西智能手机前景光明”的表达正确。选项[D]对应该段第三行:Last year wasthe first when more smartphones were sold in Brazil than traditional mobile phones.“去年巴西的智能手机销量第一次超过传统手机。”而该项说:Smartphones have dominated Brazil’s marketfor years.“智能手机在巴西市场主导多年。”故该项错误。综上,本题答案为[C]。
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