# The clustering of IT companies - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 2） - 最近考试：2022.9.3 - 题目数：11 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/7120965b-d151-4f90-a6dd-5cad605d2e3d（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A Alfred Marshall, one of the fathers of modern economics, was asked why firms in the same industry were often geographically located near each other. Proximity, he replied, created something 'in the air'. He went on to explain, 'If one man starts a new idea, it is taken up by others and combined with suggestions of their own; and thus it becomes a source of further new ideas.' Marshall was thinking about traditional 19th-century manufacturing companies, but the same is true of IT companies of the 21st century. Silicon Valley, an area near San Francisco in the USA, is home to many of the industry's giants, and hopeful founders of young start-up companies still head there. B Economic theory suggests several main reasons why historically firms from the same industry-for example, steel makers or clothing manufacturers — have ended up in the same place. Some may depend on the availability of natural resources such as coal or being close to a harbour or river for shipping goods. A concentration of firms also creates a pool of specialized workers, and thus benefits both employees and employers: the former are likely to find jobs and the latter are likely to find staff. Yet another reason is that subsidiary trades spring up to supply specialised inputs required by the primary industry. And inevitably, industries cluster together because ideas spill over from one firm to the next. C But there are also forces that encourage companies to spread out. One is the cost of transporting products to widely dispersed customers. Another is that rents tend to rise when firms cluster together. You might imagine that the dramatic fall in the cost of computing would have pushed firms in the IT industry farther apart. Natural resources do not matter to them as they do to many traditional manufacturing industries, and the ease of online communication should reduce the need for staff to be close together to deal with customers and suppliers or to swap ideas. But none of this seems to count against Silicon Valley, where commercial property prices are high, and against other IT centres like London and New York, which are not only expensive, but also lack California's high-tech history. There are plenty of other places in Europe where costs are lower, but they currently lack sufficient appeal. D Although you can find high-tech companies of all shapes and sizes in these IT centres, the smaller ones especially have a fondness for clustering together. As Jed Kolko, an economist for an international property company, explains, the less an industry needs to be near its suppliers or its customers, the more likely it is to locate where the jobs are already, such as Silicon Valley, or in major cities like London or New York. In Russia, says one knowledgeable observer of the IT scene, for a university kid studying in the regions, moving to Moscow sounds smart. E The area around Silicon Valley now has clusters inside clusters — that is, specific smaller geographic areas where similar IT companies are located. Within the borders of the Valley, makers of semiconductors and network equipment are found mostly around the city of San Jose, while search engine and social network companies are located farther to the north. Even in San Francisco there are divisions with similar companies located in specific city districts. F Young IT companies need more than a workforce; they also need access to money and expert advice. If a company is located in a cluster with other IT companies, staff can have more face-to-face communication with like-minded people from other companies, which is often more productive than phone calls or emails. Also, there is a better chance of making contact with someone with money and an interest in potentially profitable ideas. Even in industries which are built around virtual relationships, physical contact can be invaluable. The recycling of people is important, too. As people move from company to company in Silicon Valley, and as one company buys or merges with another, a whole network of people who know each other develops, and these people are able to communicate easily with each other, and hire each other. G In places like Silicon Valley, people are also close to the latest ideas. 'New ideas become known in that tiny region perhaps years ahead of the rest of the world,' argues one Valley entrepreneur. 'You are always building on the idea that came immediately before. If you are trying to build the thing that comes next, being aware of information about innovations that are already out there helps you.' This sounds very much like the point Marshall was trying to make. H Will other IT hubs ever catch up with Silicon Valley? Berlin and perhaps some other international cities like Beijing have several things going for them. One is size: they are big and lively and act as magnets for young, creative people in search of opportunities. The other advantage of these cities is that many other types of industries are located there, and hence they offer various skills on which IT companies can draw. To many, this variety may prove invaluable. ## 题目与答案 ### 14. an example of geographic clustering of IT companies within a city an example of geographic clustering of IT companies within a city - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：E 原文定位：Even in San Francisco there are divisions with similar companies located in specific city districts 同义替换：「geographic clustering of IT companies」↔「similar companies located in specific city districts」；「within a city」↔「in specific city districts」 ### 15. an argument that access to the latest thinking allows clustered IT companies to make further progress an argument that access to the latest thinking allows clustered IT companies to make further progress - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：G 原文定位：New ideas become known in that tiny region perhaps years ahead of the rest of the world,' argues one Valley entrepreneur. 'You are always building on the idea that came immediately before. If you are trying to build the thing that comes next, being aware of information about innovations that are already out there helps you 同义替换：「access to the latest thinking」↔「information about innovations」；「clustered IT companies」↔「tiny region」；「make further progress」↔「build the thing that comes next」 ### 16. a reference to how employee preferences are considered by companies a reference to how employee preferences are considered by companies - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：D 原文定位：Although you can find high-tech companies of all shapes and sizes in these IT centres, the smaller ones especially have a fondness for clustering together. As Jed Kolko, an economist for an international property company, explains, the less an industry needs to be near its suppliers or its customers, the more likely it is to locate where the jobs are already, such as Silicon Valley, or in major cities like London or New York. In Russia, says one knowledgeable observer of the IT scene, for a university kid studying in the regions, moving to Moscow sounds smart ### 17. a reference to the views of an early economist a reference to the views of an early economist - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：A 原文定位：Alfred Marshall, one of the fathers of modern economics, was asked why firms in the same industry were often geographically located near each other 同义替换：「an early economist」↔「Alfred Marshall, one of the fathers of modern economics」 ### 18. a description of the appeal certain large cities may have for IT companies a description of the appeal certain large cities may have for IT companies - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：H 原文定位：Berlin and perhaps some other international cities like Beijing have several things going for them. One is size;they are big and lively and act as magnets for young, creative people in search of opportunities 同义替换：「appeal」↔「have several things going for them」 ### 19. several examples of why meeting people in person is important several examples of why meeting people in person is important - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：F 原文定位：If a company is located in a cluster with other IT companies, staff can have more face-to-face communication with like-minded people from other companies, which is often more productive than phone calls or emails. Also, there is a better chance of making contact with someone with money and an interest in potentially profitable ideas. Even in industries which are built around virtual relationships, physical contact can be invaluable. The recycling of people is important, too. As people move from company to company in Silicon Valley, and as one company buys or merges with another, a whole network of people who know each other develops, and these people are able to communicate easily with each other, and hire each other 同义替换：「meeting people in person」↔「face-to-face communication」；「important」↔「invaluable」 ### 20-21. The list below gives some possible reasons why traditional companies have clustered together. Which TWO of these reasons are mentioned by the writer of the text? The list below gives some possible reasons why traditional companies have clustered together. Which TWO of these reasons are mentioned by the writer of the text? - to take advantage of a skilled labour market - to be near centres of academic excellence - to benefit from a favourable climate - to take advantage of low property prices - to have easy access to water transport **答案**：to take advantage of a skilled labour market,to have easy access to water transport 原文定位：Some may depend on the availability of natural resources such as coal or being close to a harbour or river for shipping goods. A concentration of firms also creates a pool of specialized workers, and thus benefits both employees and employers: the former are likely to find jobs and the latter are likely to find staff 同义替换：「skilled labour market」↔「a pool of specialized workers」；「have easy access to water transport」↔「close to a harbour or river for shipping goods」 ### 22-23. Which TWO of the following cities does the writer say are attractive to IT workers despite cost there being high? Which TWO of the following cities does the writer say are attractive to IT workers despite cost there being high? - London - New York - Moscow - Berlin - Beijing **答案**：London,New York 原文定位：But none of this seems to count against Silicon Valley, where commercial property prices are high, and against other IT centres like London and New York, which are not only expensive, but also lack California's high-tech history 同义替换：「despite cost there being high」↔「commercial property prices are high」 ### 24. 24 Some IT centres like Berlin and Beijing have an advantage of _____ . 24 Some IT centres like Berlin and Beijing have an advantage of _____ . **答案**：size 原文定位：One is size;they are big and lively and act as magnets for young, creative people in search of opportunities 同义替换：「have an advantage of」↔「One is size」 ### 25. 25 They have the ability to attract talent and provide _____ , as well as jobs, for ambitious young people. 25 They have the ability to attract talent and provide _____ , as well as jobs, for ambitious young people. **答案**：opportunities 原文定位：One is size;they are big and lively and act as magnets for young, creative people in search of opportunities 同义替换：「attract talent」↔「act as magnets for young, creative people」 ### 26. 26 The workforce in such international cities also offers a wide range of _____ for the companies located there to make use of. 26 The workforce in such international cities also offers a wide range of _____ for the companies located there to make use of. **答案**：skills 原文定位：The other advantage of these cities is that many other types of industries are located there, and hence they offer various skills on which IT companies can draw 同义替换：「a wide range of」↔「various」；「make use of」↔「draw on」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。