2014考研英語閱讀理解試題及名師解析(21)_跨考網(wǎng)

　　When it comes tothe slowing economy, Ellen Spero isn’t biting her nailsjust yet. But the 47-year-old manicurist isn’t cutting, fillingor polishing as many nails as she’d like to, either. Most of her clients spend $12 to $50 weekly, butlast month two longtime customers suddenly stopped showing up. Spero blames thesoftening economy. “I’m a good economic indicator,” she says. “I provide aservice that people can do without when they’re concerned aboutsaving some dollars。” So Spero is downscaling, shopping at middle-brow Dillard’s departmentstore near her suburban Cleveland home, instead of Neiman Marcus. “I don’t know ifother clients are going to abandon me, too” she says。

　　Even before Alan Greenspan’s admission thatAmerica’s red-hot economy is cooling, lots of working folks had already seensigns of the slowdown themselves. From car dealerships to Gap outlets, saleshave been lagging for months as shoppers temper their spending. For retailers,who last year took in 24 percent of their revenue between Thanksgiving andChristmas, the cautious approach is coming at a crucial time. Already, expertssay, holiday sales are off 7 percent from last year’s pace. Butdon’t sound any alarms just yet. Consumers seem only mildly concerned,not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy’s long-termprospects, even as they do some modest belt-tightening。

　　Consumers say they’re not in despair because, despite the dreadful headlines, their ownfortunes still feel pretty good. Home prices are holding steady in mostregions. In Manhattan, “there’s a new gold rush happening in the $4 million to $10 million range,predominantly fed by Wall Street bonuses,” says broker BarbaraCorcoran. In San Francisco, prices are still rising even as frenziedoverbidding quiets. “Instead of 20 to 30 offers, now maybe you only get two or three,”says johnTealdi, a Bay Area real-estate broker. And most folks still feel prettycomfortable about their ability to find and keep a job。

　　Many folks see silver linings to this slowdown. Potential homebuyers would cheer for lower interest rates. Employers wouldn’t mind alittle fewer bubbles in the job market. Many consumers seem to have beeninfluenced by stock-market swings, which investors now view as a necessaryingredient to a sustained boom. Diners might see an upside, too. Getting atable at Manhattan’s hot new Alain Ducasse restaurant need to be impossible. Notanymore. For that, Greenspan & Co. may still be worth toasting。

　　31. By “Ellen Spero isn't biting her nails just yet” (Line 1,Paragraph 1)， the author means

　　[A] Spero can hardly maintain her business.

　　[B] Spero is too much engaged in her work.

　　[C] Spero has grown out of her bad habit.

　　[D] Spero is not in a desperate situation。

　　32. How do the public feel about the current economic situation?

　　[A] Optimistic.

　　[B] Confused.

　　[C] Carefree.

　　[D] Panicked。

　　33. When mentioning “the $4 million to $10 million range” (Lines 3, Paragraph3)， the author is talking about

　　[A] gold market.

　　[B] real estate.

　　[C] stock exchange.

　　[D] venture investment。

　　34. Why can many people see “silver linings”to theeconomic showdown?

　　[A] They would benefit in certain ways。

　　[B] The stock market shows signs of recovery。

　　[C] Such a slowdown usually precedes a boom。

　　[D] The purchasing power would be enhanced。

　　35. To which of the following is the author likely to agree?

　　[A] A new boom, on the horizon。

　　[B] Tighten the belt, the single remedy。

　　[C] Caution all right, panic not。

　　[D] The more ventures, the more chances。