2018年公共英语五级阅读理解模拟题（4）
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When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero isn' t biting her nails just yet. But the 47-year-old mani-curist isn' t cutting, filling or polishing as many nails as she' d like to, either. Most of her clients spend $12 to$ 50 weekly, but last month two longtime customers suddenly stopped showing up. Spero blames the softening e-conomy. "I'm a good economic indicator, " she says, "I provide a service that people can do without whenthey' re concerned about saving some dollars. " So Spero is downscaling, shopping at middle-brow Dillard' s de-partment store near her suburban Cleveland home, instead of Neiman Marcus. "I don' t know if other clients are go-ing to abandon me, too. " she says.
Even before Alan Greenspan' s admission that America' s red-hot economy is cooling, lots of working folks hadalready seen signs of the slowdown themselves. From car dealerships to gap outlets, sales have been lagging formonths as shoppers temper their spending. For retailers, who last year took in 24 percent of their revenue betweenThanksgiving and Christmas, the cautious approach is coming at a crucial time. Already, experts say, holiday salesare off 7 percent from last year' s pace. But don' t sound any alarms just yet. Consumers seem only concerned, notpanicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy' s long-term prospects, even as they do somemodest belt-tightening.
Consumers say they' re not in despair because, despite the dreadful headlines, their own fortunes still feel prettygood. In Manhattan, "there' s a new gold rush happening in the $ 4 million to $10 million range, predominantlyfed by Wall Street bonuses, " says broker Barbara Corcoran. In San Francisco, prices are still rising even as fren-zied overbidding quiets. "Instead of 20 to 30 offers, now maybe you only get two or three, " says John Deadly, aBay Area real-estate broker. And most folks still feel pretty comfortable 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. Em-ployers wouldn' t mind a little fewer bubbles in the job market. Many consumers seem to have been influenced bystock-market swings, which investors now view as a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom. Diners might see actupside,, too. Getting a table at Manhattan' s hot new Alain Ducasse restaurant need to be impossible. Not anymore.For that, Greenspan & Co. may still be worth toasting.
51. 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
52. How do the public feel about the current economic situation?
[A] Optimistic.
[B] Confused.
[C] Carefree.
[D] Panicked.
53. When mentioning "the $ 4 million to $10 million range" ( Line 2, Paragraph 3 ) the author is talking a-bout
[A] gold market
[B] real estate
[C] stock exchange
[D] venture investment
54. Why can many people see "silver linings" to the economic slowdown?
[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.
55. To which of the following is the author likely to agree?
[A] A now boom, on the hodzou.
[B] Tighten the belt, the single remedy.
[C] Caution all right, panic not.
[D] The more ventures, the more chances.
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答案及解析
51.D【解析】“biting one’s nails”的意思是“一筹莫展”，通过后面的表述，“most of her clients spend$12 to$50 weekly，…”可以看出Spero并不是到了没有顾客的地步，只是越来越少，所以她并没有到达绝望的处境。故应选D。
52.A【解析】从文章第二段倒数第一句话“…and many say they remain optimistic about the economy’s long-term prospects….”可以看出，人们对现在的经济形势并不担心，相反他们认为从长远的角度来看.这种情况还是比较好的。故应选A。
53.B【解析】从文章的第三段可以看出，作者在这一段主要说明房子等不动产的价格、利润等方面，所以“the$4 million to$10 million range”说的是不动产。故应选B。
54.A【解析】从文章最后一段“Potential home buyers would cheer for lower interest rates.Employers wouldn’t mind a little fewer bubbles in the job market…”可以看出，尽管经济形势不好，但是还是有人能够受益的，比如说，想买房子的人认可这种低利息，雇主看好就业市场等。故应选A。
55.C【解析】通过全文的理解，我们可以发现作者在列数了经济形势不好的局面之后，也表明了人们对此依然存在着乐观态度，有的人还能从中受益，所以作者的态度应该是“对此加以注意，但不要惶恐。”故应选C。
