2003到2011全國大學(xué)生英語競賽C類初賽決賽真題及答案

2003年全國大學(xué)生英語競賽初賽試題2003NationalEnglishContestforCollegeStudents(Preliminary)PartIListeningComprehension(30minutes,30points)SectionADialogues(10points)Directions：Inthissection,youwillhear10shortdialogues.Attheendofeachdialogue,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththedialogueandthequestionwillbereadonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause,duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD,anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecenter.B.Apoliceofficer.D.B.Apoliceofficer.D.Anurse.B.Shewalks.D.Bybus.B.Chickenistheonlydishleft.D.Therearen'tanyvegetarianmealsB.He'llbeaway.D.He'smovingtoFlorida.B.Atadressstore.D.Atadepartmentstore.C.Atailor.A.Bytrain.C.Bycar.A.Fishistheonlydishleft.C.Vegetarianmealsarenotoffered.A.Hestartsworknextweekend.C.He'llbeinthemountains.A.Inanelevator.C.Ontheseventhfloor.A.Theyfeltitwasdisorganized.TheywerepleasedwithitsAsiancontent.TheywerepleasedwithitsAsiancontent.TheyfeltitlackedAsiancontent.Theyfeltitignoredrecentevents.Hedoesn'thaveenoughtime.Hedoesn'thaveawatch.Thelibrarydoesn'thavethearticleshewants.Hecan'tfindthelibrary.Hewantsthewomantodineoutwiththem.Hewantstoworktomorrow.Hewantsthewomantofinishdinnerfirst.Hewantstopayforthedinner.Twiceaday. B.Twiceaweek.Onceaweek. D.Daily.Attwoo'clock. B.Atfouro'clock.A.A.A.C.A.C.Atthreethirty. D.Ateighto'clock.SectionBNewsItems(10points)Directions：Inthissection,youwillhear10piecesofshortnewsfromBBCorVOA.Therewillbeaquestionfollowingeachpieceofnews.Writedowntheanswertoeachquestioninnomorethan15words. SectionCCompoundDictation(10points)Directions：Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Thenlistentothepassageagain.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom21to28withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom29to30,youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Youcaneitherusetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourownwords.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewrittenandrewritethecorrectanswersontheAnswerSheet.AlthoughgeneralMotorsandGeneralElectricarelargemultinationalcompanieswithoperationsaroundtheglobe,therearenumeroussmallercompaniesthatengageininternationaltrade.Because95percentoftheworld'spopulationandtwo-thirdsofits(21)powerarelocatedoutsidetheUnitedStates,itisimportantforAmerican(22)tobepresentinforeignmarkets.However,beforeweexplainthedifferentmethodsbywhichacompanymay(23)ininternationaltrade,wemightfirstconsidersomeimportant(24)thatU.S.companiesoftenfailtostudybeforetheysellproductsinaforeigncountry.Thesefactorsare(25)withdifferencesinlanguage,invaluesandattitudes,andinpolitical(26).When(27)Coca-ColaintotheChinesemarketin1920,thecompanyusedagroupofChinesesymbolsthat,whenspoken,soundedlikeCoca-Cola.However,whenread,thesesymbolsmeant,“afemalehorsefattenedwithwax”.UponreenteringtheChinesemarketinthe1970s,Coca-ColausedaseriesofChinese(28)thattranslatesinto“happinessinthemouth(29).Cultureisthetotalpatternofhumanbehaviorthatispracticedbyaparticulargroupofpeople.(30).PartIIVocabularyandStructure(15minutes,30points)SectionAMultipleChoice(20points)Directions：Questions31-50constituteacompletepassage.Thereare20blanksinthepassage.ForeachblanktherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.SeniorMetropolitanpoliceofficerstriedtodismisstheNotingHillraceriotswhichragedforfivenightsovertheAugustbankholidayin1958astheworkofuruffians,bothcoloredandwhitenhell-bentonhooliganism,accordingtoofficialfiles.A.recentrevealed B.newlyreleasedC.previousdisclosing D.earlierexposingButpoliceeyewitnessreportsinthesecretpapersthattheywereoverwhelminglytheworkofawhiteworkingclassmobouttogetthe“niggers”.A.contain B.convinceC.consist D.confirmTheferocityoftheNotingHill"racialriots”，asthepresscalledthematthetime,shockedBritainintoforthefirsttimethatitwasnotabovethekindofracialconflictthenbeingplayedoutintheAmericandeepsouth.A.realizing B.witnessingC.watching D.identifyingThecarnival,whichwillthestreetsofwestLondonmorethan1.5millionpeoplethisweekend,wasstartedin1959asadirectresponsetotheriots.A.crowd；of B.pour；forC.fill；with D.emerge；inWhileseniorofficerstriedtoplaydowntheracialaspectsoftheriots,theinternalMetropolitanpolicefilesreleasedthismonthatthepublicrecordofficeconfirmthatthedisturbanceswereoverwhelminglyby300to400stronguKeepBritainWhite”mobs,manyofthemTeddyboysarmedwithironbars,butcher'sknivesandweightedleatherbelts,whowentunigger-huntingnamongtheWestIndianresidentsofNotingHillandNotingDale.A. erupted B. commencedC. triggered D. inauguratedThefirstnightleftfiveblackmenonthepavementsofNotingHill.A. lyingunconscious B. therediedC. feelfaint D. serioushurtThebattlesragedoverthebankholidayweekendastheblackrespondedinkindwithcounterattacksbylargegroupsof“menofcolor“similarlyarmed.A.column B.armyC.brigade D.communityThomasWilliamswasstoppedbythepoliceashecameoutofBluey'sClubonTalbotRoad,NotingHill.Heapieceofirondownhislefttrouserleg,apetrolbombinhisrightpocketandarazorbladeinhisinsidebreastpocket："Ihavetoprotectmyself,“hetoldthearrestingofficer.A.foundtohave B.wasfoundtohaveC.foundhaving D.wasfoundhavingThefiles,whichweresealedunderthe75-yearrulebuthavebeenreleasedearly,showthatseniorofficerstriedtoconvincethethenhomesecretary,"Rab"Butler,thattherewasnotaracialelementtotherioting.A.forbidden B.confidentialC.incredible D.strictInhisofficialreport,DetectiveSergeantM.WaltersoftheNottingHillpolicesaidthenationalpresshadbeenwrongtoportraythe"widespreadseriesofstreetdisturbances"as"racialMriots："Whereastherecertainlywassomefeelingbetweenwhiteandcoloredresidentsinthisarea,itisabundantlyclearmuchofthetroublewascausedbyruffians,bothcoloredandwhite,whoseizedonthisopportunitytoindulgeinhooliganism.”A. ill B. sickC. painful D. hurtButthepolicewitnessstatementsandprivatestatistics.A. tolddifferently B. interpreted inadifferentwayC. existedmany differencesD. toldadifferentstoryTheMetcommissionerwastoldthatthe108peoplewhowerechargedwithoffencesrangingfromgrievousbodilyharmtoaffrayandriotandpossessingoffensiveweapons,72werewhiteand36were"colored”.A.for B.fromC.of D.inItispopularlybelievedthattheriotbeganonthenightofSaturday,August20,whena400-strongcrowdofwhitemen,"Teds”,attackedhousesoccupiedbyWestIndians.A. theyareall B. manyofthemC. somewere D. mostofthembelongtoAmongthewasMajbrittMorrison,ayoungwhiteSwedishbrideofaJamaican.A. offenders B. riotersC. victims D. residentsShewaspeltedwithstones,glassandwood,andinthebackwithanironbarasshetriedtogethome.A.bruised B.struckC.patted D.scratchedTheinternalpolicewitnessstatementsprovidegraphicevidenceofthemotivesofthemobs一atonepointcrowdsseveralthousandstrongroamedthestreetsofNottingHill,homesandattackinganyWestIndiantheycouldfind.A.plunginginto B.breakingintoC.seekingfor D.searchingforPCRichardBedfordsaidhehadseenamobof300to400whitepeopleinBramleyRoad："Wewillkillallblackbastards.Whydon'tyousendthemhome?"A.shouting B.tocryC.utter D.announcedPCIanMcQueenonthesamenightsaidhewastold："Mindyourown,cops.Keepoutofit.Wewillsettletheseniggersourway.We'llmurderthebastards."A.matters B.affairC.things D.businessThedisturbancescontinuednightafternightuntiltheyfinallypeteredoutonSeptember5.AttheOldBaileyJudgeSalmonlaterhandeddownexemplaryoffouryearseachonninewhiteyouthswhohadgone"niggerhunting".A.decisions B.statementsC.trials D.sentencesWhilethosedealtwithbythecourtswereoverwhelminglywhite,thelargenumberofblackpeoplealsoarrestedandtheofficialtherehadnotbeenaracialmotiveensuredalegacyofblackmistrustoftheMetropolitanpolicethathasneverreallybeeneradicated.A.persistence B.perseveranceC.insistence D.instanceSectionBErrorCorrection(lOpoints)Directions：Thefollowingpassagecontains9errors.Ineachcaseonlyonewordisinvolved.YoushouldproofreadthepassageontheAnswerSheetandcorrectitinthefollowingway：EXAMPLEOnenight,quitelate,IwasstillawakeintheroomIamsharedwith1.ammyhusband.Iwaslyingonmyrightsideandcanhearachildcrying.2.couldGettingup,IwentAseeifoursonwasallright. 3.toHewassleepingsoundly,breathingdeeplyandgently. 4.JTheZipperWhateverdidwedobeforetheinventionofthezipper?In1893theworld'sfirstzipperwasproducedinChicago.Althoughtheinventorclaimedthatitwasareliablefasteningforclothing,thiswasnotthecase.TheChicagozippersprang51.openwithoutwarning,orjammedshut,anditswiftlylostpopularity.TwentyyearsagoaSwedish-bornengineercalled52.Sundbacksolvedtheproblem.Heattachedtinycupstothebacksoftheinterlockedteeth,andthismeantthattheteeth 53.couldbeenmeshedmorefirmlyandreliably.Atfirstzippersweremadeofmetal.Theywereheavy,andiftheygotstuckitwasdifficulttofree.Thencamenylon 54.zipperswhichwerelighterandeasiertouse,andhadsmallerteeth.Thefashionindustrylikedthenewzippersfarbetterbecausetheydidn'tdistortthelineofthegarmentorweighing55.downlightfabrics.Theywerealsoeasierforthemachiniststofitintothegarment.Meanwhileanewfasteningagentmadeitsappearanceattheendofthetwentycentury:velcro.Velcroisanotherproduct56.madefromnylon.Nylonisaverytoughsyntheticfibrefirstdevelopedinthe1930s?andbearinganametomindthewearer57.ofthetwoplaceswhereitwasdeveloped：NYforNewYorkandLONforLondon.Velcroismadewithverysmallnylonhooksononesideofthefasteningwhichcaughttinyloopedwhiskersonthe58.othersideofthefastening.Itisstronganddurable.Velcroisusedonclothing,luggagesandfootwear.Itisquick59.andeasytofastenandunfasten,andhastakenalargepartofthezipper'sshareofthemarket.Itisalsousedinwaysazippercannotbeused—forinstanceasaneasilychangedfasteningonplastercasts,andtoholdfurnishingfabricsinaposition. 60.PartIIISituationalDialogues(5minutes,10points)Directions：Completethefollowingdialoguesbychoosingthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.Rob：HeyJill,you'relookinggreat.Jill：Thanks,Rob.Rob：Well,youdidit.How?Jill：Ijogeverymorning,andIgotoaerobicseveryotherday.Iboughtthisdressyesterday.Reallysmart.Youarelookingfinetoo.I'mrecoveringmystrengthaftertheflu.MyNewYear'sresolutionwastogetinshape.Bob：HiJane.Howareyou?Jane：Ididn'tsleepawinklastnight.Thepeoplenextdoorweremakingalotofnoiseagaintillverylateatnight.A.I'mfeelingabitoutofsortsthismorning.Fine,thankyou.Andyou?Isleptlikealoganddidn*twanttogetoutofbed.Itseemsabitunusual,youknow.Ann：Aah!He'sgorgeous!Lx)okatthosebig,goldenpaws.Whendidyougethim?Roger：Yesterday.Ann：Oh,right.Whatkindisshe?Roger：ALabrador.Susan'sgotamorebeautifulone.What'sup?It'sasheactually.Isn'titright?Tina：Wow,lookatallthethingsonsale.Andrew：Yes,look,thisshirtis50%off.Tina：Andlookattheseshoes.Theyare30%offthenormalprice.A.I'dliketobuyaskirt.B.Therearesomerealbargains.C.Arethepricesreasonable?D.Theseshoesarethesameasmine.Woman：Haveyoufinishedthepackaging?Man： Woman：Good.Becausethetruckwillbecomingsoon,thisisarushjob.A.Don'thurrymorI'llbreaktheglass.Almost.Ijusthavetowraptheglassandputitintoboxes.No,1haven't.Whydidn'tyouhelpmewithit?Yes,Ihave.WhatelsecanIdoforyou?CustomsOfficer： Mrs.Johnson：No,nothingatall.CustomsOfficer；Noperfume,alcoholorcigarettes?Mrs.Johnson：WelLIhave200cigarettes；that'sall.Doyouhaveanythinginthebag,ma'am?Doyouhaveanythingtodeclare,ma'am?Doyouwanttobuysomething,ma'am?IsthereanythingIcandoforyou,ma'am?Linda：Hello.I'dliketosendthispackage,please.Clerk： Linda：Firstclass.Howlongwillthattake?Clerk：Aboutthreedays.A.Howwouldyouliketosendit?B.Whichclassareyouin?C.Wheredoyouwanttosenditto?D.Whichclassisitin?Assistant：CanIhelpyou?Colin：Yes,it'saboutthissportsshirt.Iwashedittheotherday.Thecolourrananditshrank.Assistant：Ohdear,Isee. Colin：I'mafraidnot.Assistant：I'msorry,butI'mnotallowedtochangeanythingwithoutareceipt.Didyoubuyithere?Wouldyouwanttochangeit?Doyouhavethereceipt?Couldyoutellmewhosoldittoyou?James：CouldIhavemybill,please?CanIpaybycreditcardoreurocheque?Receptionist： James：I'llpaybycreditcard,then.Receptionist：Thafsfine.Ihopeyouenjoyedyourstayhere.A.Here'syourbill.B.Sorry,wedon'ttakecreditcard.C.Youcanpaybyeurocheque.D.Yes,wetakeboth.Husband：Whenisouranniversary?Wife： Husband：No,it'sjustthatIboughttheseflowersforyouandIwashopingtodaywastheday.A.Hmm...Ican'tremembereither.Why?Hey,aretheseflowersforme?Whocares?Doyouwanttogivemeasurprise?Areyoujoking?Haveyoureallyforgottenagain?PartIVReadingComprehension(25minutes,40points)SectionAMultipleChoice(10points)Directions：Thereisonereadingpassageinthispart.Thepassageisfollowedby5questionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions71to75arebasedonthefollowingpassage：Takingapeepatwhat'sgoingoninyourheadCARLFiler,18,astarsalesmanataB&QhardwarestoreintheUK,wascalledupforpromotionwithinoneweekofstartingwork.But,insteadofbeingmadesupervisor,hewassacked-afterhisemployerssawtheresultsofhispsychometrictest.Youmightthinkthatanyonewhoanswersthatheustronglydisagreesheisanover-achieverisaskingfortrouble,butMrFileralreadythoughthehadprovedhimselfmorethancapable.Thisyear,nearlyhalfofUKfirms-46percent一willusepsychometricteststoselecttrainees,comparedwithjust17percentin2000,accordingtoareportforGTLapublisherofgraduatecareerguides.Thesetests,whichratecandidates*abilityandgaugetheirpersonality,havebeenusedintheUKsincethe1980s.Butassortedstudieshaveshownmostpeople一graduatesinparticular-arewhollycynicalabouttheideaoftheirpersonalitybeingumeasured.uPeopletendtoseethemaseithertoosillyortooclever,saysCliveFletcher,professorofoccupationalpsychologyatUniversityofLondon."Butalltheevidenceindicatesthetestsdohavesomevalue.Thefirstpersonalitytestasweknowit,wasdevelopedbytheAmericanarmyin1917tofilteroutweakrecruits.Butitwasnotuntilthe1980sthatthetestsbecamepopularinBritain.Witharisingnumberofgraduatesgoingforadecreasingnumberofjobs,organizationsbegantoseepsychometrictestingasacheap,reliablealternativetotheexpensive,time-consuminginterview.Buttodaythetestsarebecomingalarminglysophisticatedandareedgingtowardsprobingthe”darkside：pathologyandpersonalitydisorders.Increasingly,testsarebeingusedtotrytodetectpromisingyounggraduateswhomay,laterinlife,flyofftherails(gocrazy)；ortostoppsychopaths(havingmentaldisorder)gettingrecruited.Inthefuture,intervieweescouldevenbegivenamouthswabtorevealthegeneticandbiologicalmarkersofpersonality.uWeareheadingfortheeraofgeneticscreening,nwarnsCarolynJones,oftheInstituteforEmploymentRights."Ithinkthesetestsareveryflawed.Andthereareotherproblemswiththetests.Forstarters,itispossibletofakeit-eventhetestproducersagreeonthis.Buttheyhavemadeitashardaspossible.Forexample,lookatwhetheryouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingtwostatements：”Newideascomeeasilytomeand"Ifindgeneratingnewconceptsdifficult.Howlongdidittakeyoutorealizetheybothcouldmeanthesamething?Themainargument,however,isthatthetestsareinvalidandcannotquantify(putanumericalvalueon)somethingaschangeableaspersonality.Thegoldenruleisthen,thatapsychometrictestshouldneverbeusedasthesolebasisofselection,butshouldalwaysbefollowedbyinterviews.Mostpeople'sattitudetowardsthepsychometrictestis.A.contemptuousB.favorableC.tolerantD.confoundedWhichofthefollowingisoneofthereasonswhypsychometrictestingwinsanadvantageoverinterviews?A.Itdoesn'tcostanymoney.B.Itrequiresnoequipment.C.Itistime-saving. D.Itcanbedonewithinseconds.Whichofthefollowingstatementsistheauthor'sidea?Psychometrictestsaredefective.Psychometrictestsshouldnotbetheonlywaytorecruitpromisingyounggraduates.Psychometrictestsareinvalidandcannotquantifysomethingchangeableaspersonality.Psychometrictestsaregoldenrules.Thetestproducersmakethetestsverycomplicatedto.A.avoidcheating B.improvegeneticscreeningC.findoutthebestideasD.generatenewconceptsWhichofthefollowingisnottrueaccordingtothepassage?TheAmericanarmydevelopedthefirstpersonalitytesttoscreenoutweakrecruits.Inthefuture,interviewerscouldgiveamouthswabtorevealinterviewees*symptoms.Therearepossibilitiesforstarterstocheatinthepsychometrictests.Interviewsstillplayanimportantroleinevaluatinginterviewees.SectionBShortAnswerQuestions(30points)Directions：Inthispartthereare3passageswith15questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagescarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsinthefewestpossiblewords(notexceeding10words).RemembertorewritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.Questions76to80arebasedonthefollowingpassage：The8StepsofSocialInvention1.Getreadytoplay.Likeothertypesofcreativity,socialinventivenessflourisheswhenyoubeginthinkingoutsideconventionalboundaries.CharlieGirsch,aSt.Paul,Minnesota-basedcreativityconsultant,suggeststhatyoustartbyplayingwithobviouslyabsurdexplanationsforeverydayevents."Iftrafficisslow,you'llbeternptedtosay,'Hmm.Mustbeanaccidentupahead.9Instead,trysaying,'Mustbeafamilyofturtlescrossingthehighway*or'Iexpectthere'ssomekindofalienabductiongoingon.’You'llbeamazedhowsoonyouwillbelookingatfamiliarproblemsinnewways.Girsch'sbook,FanningtheCreativeSpirit(CreativityCentral,1999)hasscoresofotherexercisesforlimberinguptheinventivepartofyourbrain.Generateazillionfar-fetchedideas.Concernedaboutthehomelessinyourneighborhood?ImagineaHomelessParliament?aHomelessCircus,homelessfamiliesforminganorchestra,ahomelessmuseum...andonandon.Generatelikemadwithnoregardforfeasibilityinorder,associalinventionpioneerNicholasAlberyadvises,touovercomeeworthy-but-dullideas."Eventuallythetwoorthreebestideaswillbegintostandout.Takeyourwildestideaandbringitdowntoearth.HowaboutthatHomelessCircus?Coulditturnintoaforumforhomelesspeopletodisplaytheircreativetalents?Aperformanceseriesabouthomelessness?Aneighborhoodcarnivalwiththehomelessasguestsofhonor?Yourflakiestideamayhaveagermofbrilliancethatactuallymakesitmoreattractive,andthusmorefeasible(andfundable),thanitsworthy-but-dullcousins.Lookforinvenationsthatsolvemorethanoneproblem.TheSlowFoodMovement,bominItaly,boostslocalfarmersandregionalcuisinetraditionsandrestaurateursandthesametimethatit“feeds“ourhungerforauthentictastes,healthyeating,andamoreleisurely,sanerstyleoflife.Accentuatethepositive."AverycommonquestionthatIgetwhenIworkwithpeopleincommunitiesis*Whydoesn'tanybodycareaboutourproblems?'"notesMchaelPatterson,asocialinventorandactivistinMassachusetts."Whataworthlessquestion.'Why'?questionsareforphilosophers.Ask'How'?and'What'?questions—theyarealotmorepractical."Forinstance,Pattersonasks,"Whatwouldyoudoifyouknewyoucouldn'tfail?"Giveitarest.Walkawayfromyourfavoriteideaforawhile,forgetaboutit,letitsleep.Withyourconsciousmindoutoftheway,yoursubconsciousgetstofiddlewiththeconceptforawhile,andyoujustmighthaveanunexpectedinsightorbreakthrough.Practice"yesand"insteadof"yesbut".Nomatterhowtemptedyouaretosay"Yes,butthiswillbehardbecause,"or"Yes,butamillionotherpeoplearedoingthis,"shifttheconjunctionto"and"andseewhatsortofpositiverefinementorchangeemerges."Yes,andwecouldconcentrateonimmigrants.""Yes,andwecanmakeitopentoallages."Getyourideaintotheworld.Thisisthetoughpart.Youmightseekoutthehelpofactivistswhowilltakeashinetoyourideas.Orbecomeanorganizeryourself.PaulGlove,aNewYorksocialinventor,coun-sels："Ifyouhaveanideayoubelievein,writeapamphletwithyourphonenumberonitandpostitinLaundromatsandbookstores.Ifthreepeoplecallyou,havelunchwiththemandcallyourselvesanorganization.Iffivepeoplecall,meetwiththemandissueapressrelease.Presto,you'relaunched.Togeneratefar-fetchedideashelpsto.MichaelPattersonwantsustocomeupwith"How"?and"What"?insteadofWhy"?questionsbecauseheconsiderstheyaremorepracticalthan.Thepurposetopractice"yesand"insteadof"yesbut"istomakeyourselfmore.Accordingtothearticle,whenonehasdifficultydevelopinghisfavoriteidea,heshould.Oneshouldnotonlygeneratefar-fetchedideasbutalsobecausethelatterstepisthenearesttoreality.Questions81to85arebasedonthefollowingpassage：ThinSliceofTVHasBigMarketItistooearlytowriteanobituaryforbulkypicturetubes,whichwillremainthemostaffordableTVsetsforyearstocome.But,analystsandindustryexecutivesinsistthatthinscreensalreadyhavestartedtobecomethedominantformatforTVsetsinthedigitalera.Sharppricecutshavebroughtplasmasetsandotherthin,flattelevisionsoutofhigh-endelectronicboutiquesandintothousandsofmass-marketoutletssuchasCosco,awholesalebuyingclubintheUS,bestknownforofferingmembersbulkitemsandbigdiscounts.TheleastexpensiveplasmasetsstillcostaheftyUS$3,OOOormore,yetsalesaregrowingsorapidlythatmanymanufacturersareracingtoboostproduction.Thatincrease,combinedwithexpandingproductioncapacityandimprovedtechnology,couldpushthepriceofplasmasetsdownbyone-thirdnextyear,accordingtoanalystRichardDohertyofEnvisioneeringGroup,aUSresearchfirm.Butmanufacturersarenotjustcompetingwitheachother；theyarealsotryingtofendoffchallengesfromcompetingthin-screentechnologies,suchasliquid