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falling behind in the competitive arena of international trade? Or is it undergoing a process of
adaptation and renewal? A spate of books has been published on the
subject during the past few
years, and these have sparked a wide- ranging public debate over these concerns. One of the
best known of these books is Paul Kennedy's Rise and Fall of the Great Powers.. In fact, Paul
Kennedy is the most prominent of the decline theorists. Examining the
history of great powers
such as/16th century Spain and the British Empire around 1900, he identifies a pattern of
"imperial overstretch." To maintain a position of dominance, great powers over time find
themselves devoting' an increasing share of their resources to military security. This often leads
to a neglect of
technological innovation and, ultimately, to a decline in economic strength.
22. The questions with which the author begins this passage _____ .
A. imply that the United States is an invincible world power
B. explain his full trust in the strength of the
United States
C. clearly show that he is uncertain about the present position of the United States in the
world
D. demonstrate the author's confidence in the
future of his country
23. In his Rise and Fall of Great Powers , Paul Kennedy_______ .
A. points out that the British Empire collapsed because it ignored new advances in technology
B. argues that the great powers in the past declined because of the drain on resources for
military security
C. explains that the Spanish Empire in the 16th century was solely concerned with its economic
strength
D. is of the opinion that the term "imperial overstretch" has been misused among historians
24. According to the passage, the question of the current role of the United States ______ .
A. should not be related to the concept of "imperial overstretch"
B. is of little interest to anyone but political historians
C. has not viewed within any historical context
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