雅思考试备考练习题
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Selling Digital Music without Copy-protectionMakes Sense
A.
It was uncharacteristically low-key for theindustry’s greatest showman. But the essaypublished this week by Steve Jobs, the boss ofApple, on his firm’s website under the unassumingtitle “Thoughts on Music” has nonetheless provokeda vigorous debate about the future of digital music,which Apple dominates with its iPod music-player and iTunes music-store. At issue is “digitalrights management” (DRM)—the technology guarding downloaded music against theft. Sincethere is no common standard for DRM, it also has the side-effect that songs purchased for onetype of music-player may not work on another. Apple’s DRM system, called FairPlay, is the mostwidespread. So it came as a surprise when Mr. Jobs called for DRM for digital music to beabolished.
B.
This is a change of tack for Apple. It has come under fire from European regulators whoclaim that its refusal to license FairPlay to other firms has “locked in” customers. Since musicfrom the iTunes store cannot be played on non-iPod music-players (at least not without a lot offiddling), any iTunes buyer will be deterred from switching to a device made by a rival firm,such as Sony or Microsoft. When French lawmakers drafted a bill last year compelling Apple toopen up FairPlay to rivals, the company warned of “state-sponsored piracy”. Only DRM, itimplied, could keep the pirates at bay.
C.
This week Mr. Jobs gave another explanation for his former defence of DRM: the recordcompanies made him do it. They would make their music available to the iTunes store only ifApple agreed to protect it using DRM. They can still withdraw their catalogues if the DRMsystem is compromised. Apple cannot license FairPlay to others, says Mr Jobs, because it woulddepend on them to produce security fixes promptly. All DRM does is restrict consumerchoice and provide a barrier to entry, says Mr Jobs; without it there would be far more storesand players, and far more innovation. So, he suggests, why not do away with DRM and sellmusic unprotected? “This is clearly the best alternative for consumers,” he declares, “andApple would embrace it in a heartbeat.”
D.
Why the sudden change of heart? Mr Jobs seems chiefly concerned with getting Europe’sregulators off his back. Rather than complaining to Apple about its use of DRM, he suggests, “those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuadingthe music companies to sell their music DRM-free.” Two and a half of the four big recordcompanies, he helpfully points out, are European-owned. Mr Jobs also hopes to paint himself asa consumer champion. Apple resents accusations that it has become the Microsoft of digitalmusic.
E.
Apple can afford to embrace open competition in music players and online stores.Consumers would gravitate to the best player and the best store, and at the moment that stillmeans Apple’s. Mr Jobs is evidently unfazed by rivals to the iPod. Since only 3% of the music ina typical iTunes library is protected, most of it can already be used on other players today, henotes. (And even the protected tracks can be burned onto a CD and then re-ripped.) SoApple’s dominance evidently depends far more on branding and ease of use than DRM-related“lock in”.
F.
The music giants are trying DRM-free downloads. Lots of smaller labels already sell musicthat way. Having seen which way the wind is blowing, Mr Jobs now wants to be seen not asDRM’s defender, but as a consumer champion who helped in its downfall. Wouldn’t it lead to asurge in piracy? No, because most music is still sold unprotected on CDs, people wishing tosteal music already can do so. Indeed, scrapping DRM would probably increase online-musicsales by reducing confusion and incompatibility. With the leading online store, Apple wouldbenefit most. Mr Jobs’s argument, in short, is transparently self-serving. It also happens to beright.
Questions 1-7
Do the following statemets reflect the claims ofthe writer in Reading Passage 1?
Write your answer in Boxes 1-7 on your answersheet.
TRUE if the statement reflets the claims of thewriter
FALSE if the statement contradicts the claims ofthe writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossbile to say what the writer thinks about this
1. Apple enjoys a controlling position in digital music market with its iPod music-player andiTunes music-store.
2. DRM is a government decree issued with a purpose to protect downloaded music fromtheft by consumers.
3. Lack of standardization in DRM makes songs bought for one kind of music player maynot function on another.
4. Apple has been criticized by European regulators since it has refused to grant a licenseFairPlay to other firms.
5. All music can be easily played on non-iPod music devices from Sony or Microsoft withouttoo much fiddling.
6. Apple depends far more on DRM rather than branding for its dominance of the digitalmusic devices.
7. If DRM was cancelled, Sony would certainly dominate the international digital musicmarket.
Questions 8-10
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 8-10 on your answe sheet.
8. Which of the following statements about Mr. Jobs’ idea of DRM is NOT TRUE?
A. DRM places restrictions on consumer’ choice of digital music products available.
B. DRM comples iTunes buyers to switch to a device made by Sony or Microsoft.
C. DRM constitutes a barrier for potential consumers to enter digital music markets.
D. DRM hinders development of more stores and players and technical innovation.
9. The word “unfazed” in line 3 of paragraph E, means___________.
A. refused
B. welcomed
C. not bothered
D. not well received
10. Which of the following statements is TRUE if DRM was scapped?
A. Sony would gain the most profit.
B. More customers would be “locked in”.
C. A sudden increase in piracy would occur.
D. Online-music sales would probably decrease.
Questions 11-14
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Reading Passage 1 for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.
Mr. Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, explains the reason why he used to defend DRM, sayingthat the company was forced to do so: the record companies would make their musicaccessible to …11...only if they agreed to protect it using DRM; they can still…12…if the DRMsystem is compromised. He also provides the reason why Apple did not license FairPlay toothers: the company relies on them to …13….But now he changes his mind with a possibleexpectation that Europe’s regulators would not trouble him any more in the future. Heproposes that those who are unsatisfactory with the current situation in digital music marketshould …14… towards persuade the music companies to sell their music DRM-free.
Part II
Notes to Reading Passage 1
1. low-key:
抑制的`，受约束的，屈服的
2. showman:
开展览会的人, 出风头的人物
3. unassuming:
谦逊的, 不夸耀的, 不装腔作势的
4. iPod：
(苹果公司出产的)音乐播放器
5. iTunes store：
(苹果公司出产的)在线音乐商店
6. get off person’s back:
不再找某人的麻烦，摆脱某人的纠缠
7. gravitate:
受吸引，倾向于
8. unfazed:
不再担忧，不被打扰
Part III
Keys and explanations to the Questions 1-13
1. TRUE
See the second sentence in Paragraph A “… the future of digital music, which Appledominates with its iPod music-player and iTunes music-store.”
2. FALSE
See the third sentence in Paragraph A “…At issue is “digital rights management” (DRM)—thetechnology guarding downloaded music against theft.”
3. TRUE
See the fourth sentence in Paragraph A “Since there is no common standard for DRM, italso has the side-effect that songs purchased for one type of music-player may not work onanother.”
4. TRUE
See the second sentence in Paragraph B “It has come under fire from European regulatorswho claim that its refusal to license FairPlay to other firms has “locked in” customers.”
5. NOT GIVEN
The third sentence in Paragaph B only mentions music from the iTunes store, nothing aboutthat of Sony or Microsoft. “Since music from the iTunes store cannot be played on non-iPodmusic-players (at least not without a lot of fiddling).”
6. FALSE
See the last sentence in Paragraph E “So Apple’s dominance evidently depends far moreon branding and ease of use than DRM-related “lock in”.
7. NOT GIVEN
See the fourth sentence in Paragraph F only mentions music generally, no particularinformation about business prospect of Sony “Indeed, scrapping DRM would probably increaseonline-music sales by reducing confusion and incompatibility.”
8. B
See the fourth sentence of Paragraph C “All DRMdoes is restrict consumer choice and provide abarrier to entry, says Mr Jobs; without it therewould be far more stores and players, and far moreinnovation.”
9. C
See the third sentence of Paragraph E and thecontext “Mr Jobs is evidently unfazed by rivals to theiPod. Since only 3% of the music in a typical iTuneslibrary is protected, most of it can already be used on other players today.”
10. A
See the last four sentences of Paragraph F “Wouldn’t it lead to a surge in piracy? No,because most music is still sold unprotected on CDs, people wishing to steal music already cando so. Indeed, scrapping DRM would probably increase online-music sales by reducingconfusion and incompatibility. With the leading online store, Apple would benefit most.”
11. the iTunes store
See the second sentence of Paragraph C “They would make their music available to theiTunes store only if Apple agreed to protect it using DRM.”
12. withdraw their catalogues
See the third sentence of Paragraph C “They can still withdraw their catalogues if the DRMsystem is compromised.”
13. produce security fixes
See the fourth sentence of Paragraph C “Apple cannot license FairPlay to others, says MrJobs, because it would depend on them to produce security fixes promptly.”
14. redirect their energies
See the second sentence of Paragraph D “Rather than complaining to Apple about its use ofDRM, he suggests, “those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energiestowards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free.”
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