"Paris is the only city in the world where it is hard to find a taxi." So in 2008 said an embarrassed Nicolas Sarkozy, then France's president, provoked by the near-impossibility of hailing a cab on the capital's streets. He tried to fix the problem, but backed down after cabs blocked the streets during days of protest. Six years on, his Socialist successor (继任者), François Hollande, is again facing up to taxi drivers and try to keep out smartphone-enabled private cabs. Until recently, it has been all but impossible in Paris to pre-book reasonably priced, fixed-fare trips.The arrival of start-ups such as SnapCar, AlloCab or Uber has provided a new idea. Their growth was encouraged by a 2009 law. But taxis still have a monopoly (垄断) on street hailing. Yet the new operators have shaken up the market and made taxi drivers angry. The taxi lobby argues that drivers' livelihoods (生计) are under threat from the competition. Last month the protests turned nasty when some of Uber's cars were smashed up.Despite his new pro-reform image, Mr. Hollande's approach has scarcely been start-up-friendly. Beginning in January the government imposed on private cabs a 15-minute wait before picking up passengers, but this policy has been suspended by the State Council, the highest administrative court.For their part, the start-ups want the policy canceled. The competition authority was against it because it would make consumers worse off. This is a novel argument in a country where the state is uncomfortable about technology disrupting markets. Now that Parisians have begun to see how nice and convenient cabs can be, attitudes may change. "People in France are fed up with monopolies," argues Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, head of Uber in France. "The French now realize that in real life more competition brings innovation and improves the level of service."80. Which of the following statement can best sum up the passage?A) New operators compete with taxis in Paris.B) French presidents try to deal with difficulties of hailing a cab.C) French taxi drivers protest against government regulations.D) New operators have dominated French market.
"Paris is the only city in the world where it is hard to find a taxi." So in 2008 said an embarrassed Nicolas Sarkozy, then France's president, provoked by the near-impossibility of hailing a cab on the capital's streets. He tried to fix the problem, but backed down after cabs blocked the streets during days of protest. Six years on, his Socialist successor (继任者), François Hollande, is again facing up to taxi drivers and try to keep out smartphone-enabled private cabs. Until recently, it has been all but impossible in Paris to pre-book reasonably priced, fixed-fare trips.
The arrival of start-ups such as SnapCar, AlloCab or Uber has provided a new idea. Their growth was encouraged by a 2009 law. But taxis still have a monopoly (垄断) on street hailing. Yet the new operators have shaken up the market and made taxi drivers angry. The taxi lobby argues that drivers' livelihoods (生计) are under threat from the competition. Last month the protests turned nasty when some of Uber's cars were smashed up.
Despite his new pro-reform image, Mr. Hollande's approach has scarcely been start-up-friendly. Beginning in January the government imposed on private cabs a 15-minute wait before picking up passengers, but this policy has been suspended by the State Council, the highest administrative court.
For their part, the start-ups want the policy canceled. The competition authority was against it because it would make consumers worse off. This is a novel argument in a country where the state is uncomfortable about technology disrupting markets. Now that Parisians have begun to see how nice and convenient cabs can be, attitudes may change. "People in France are fed up with monopolies," argues Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, head of Uber in France. "The French now realize that in real life more competition brings innovation and improves the level of service."
80. Which of the following statement can best sum up the passage?
A) New operators compete with taxis in Paris.
B) French presidents try to deal with difficulties of hailing a cab.
C) French taxi drivers protest against government regulations.
D) New operators have dominated French market.