Teachers’ Labor Cost and Post Negotiation The President of the Washington Teachers’ Union has told members that he hopes to

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问题                     Teachers’ Labor Cost and Post Negotiation
    The President of the Washington Teachers’ Union has told members that he hopes to have details of a proposed contract ready for their review after they return from spring break on April 6, a sign that the negotiations that began in late 2007 might be coming to an end. In an e-mail to teachers Wednesday night, George Parker said the union is "finalizing discussions" with the D. C. school system on a tentative agreement, which is expected to include a 20 percent salary increase over five years, a voluntary pay-for-performance plan and increased latitude for Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee to fire or reassign teachers. "There still are a few technical issues we are working to resolve, but I hope to have an announcement and details on the new tentative agreement ready when you return from spring break," he wrote.
    Parker could not be reached Thursday to comment. Rhee said the two sides are " getting closer " but stopped short of confirming Parker’s timetable. The lengthy talks have been marked by several points at which agreement seemed near. "I don’t feel that in good conscience I can say anything and have credibility," Rhee said.
    Several hurdles remain before the labor deal is finalized, including ratification by the union’s rank-and-file members and the D.C. Council. Prior to that, D. C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi must certify that money for raises is available. Rhee is expected to fund a significant portion of the raises with donations from private foundations. A Gandhi spokesman said Thursday that the office has yet to receive any information from Rhee.
    During the talks, Rhee has refused to name the donors or discuss details of their commitments. Sources have said over the past two years that possible contributors include the Broad Foundations and the Walton Family Foundation. Asked how transparent she is prepared to be with Gandhi about the sources of the private money, Rhee responded: "Totally. " "We are operating under the assumption that he would need to have all of that," she said.
    Parker and Rhee both have every incentive to wrap up the contract. Parker faces a challenge from WTU General Vice President Nathan Saunders in union elections scheduled for May. Without a deal that puts more money in teachers’ pockets, he could face a tough race. In Saunders, Rhee would be dealing with a new union president who has been among her most bitter critics.
    The contract talks have been viewed nationally as a potentially precedent-setting showdown. The talks pit Rhee—who seeks to limit seniority-based job security for teachers—against Randi Weingarten, president of the politically potent American Federation of Teachers, the WTU’s parent organization, who wants to protect her member yet still position the union as a force for reform.
The word "pit" in Paragraph 6 probably means______.

选项 A、to put into negotiation
B、to put into competition
C、to make into cooperation
D、to make into reconciliation

答案B

解析 语义理解题。根据题干提示定位到第六段。联系该词出现的句子可推知其结构主干为The talks pit Rhee...against Randi;再由段尾对Randi的说明可知,两者的立场是对立的,故再联系against一词可推知,[B]含义与pit在原文的含义一致,为正确答案。[A]“协商”、[C]“合作”和[D]“和解”均与原文上下文含义不符,且不能与against搭配,故均排除。
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