问答题Practice 2  The news couldn’t be worse. Three years of recession or anemic economic growth, Argentina’s debt default and collapse and—more recently—Bolivia’s president run out of office by indigenous people fed up with his pro-business, pro-Washington agenda. Taken together, these trials have seemingly erased the promise of prosperity that wafted across the region a decade ago. Now there’s the specter of a return to the dark days of the 1970s and 80s when economic and political chaos were the norm. Social eruptions have prompted a wide-ranging and contentious reappraisal of the economic orthodoxy—the neoliberal model that has shaped policy in Latin America for the past 15 years. Market-oriented structural reforms have succeeded in a few crucial ways: they ended the ruinous era of hyperinflation, and inculcated a sense of fiscal responsibility among profligate governments. But belt-tightening has not led to the robust economic performance promised when reforms began. After enjoying encouraging GDP expansion in the early and mid-1990s, Latin America has stumbled through about five years of economic stagnation that have left the region’s have-nots in a surly mood. Latin America desperately wants increased access to markets in the United States and Europe, but the region doesn’t want to pursue trade deals on what it perceives to be unfair terms. (Newsweek)

问答题
Practice 2  The news couldn’t be worse. Three years of recession or anemic economic growth, Argentina’s debt default and collapse and—more recently—Bolivia’s president run out of office by indigenous people fed up with his pro-business, pro-Washington agenda. Taken together, these trials have seemingly erased the promise of prosperity that wafted across the region a decade ago. Now there’s the specter of a return to the dark days of the 1970s and 80s when economic and political chaos were the norm. Social eruptions have prompted a wide-ranging and contentious reappraisal of the economic orthodoxy—the neoliberal model that has shaped policy in Latin America for the past 15 years. Market-oriented structural reforms have succeeded in a few crucial ways: they ended the ruinous era of hyperinflation, and inculcated a sense of fiscal responsibility among profligate governments. But belt-tightening has not led to the robust economic performance promised when reforms began. After enjoying encouraging GDP expansion in the early and mid-1990s, Latin America has stumbled through about five years of economic stagnation that have left the region’s have-nots in a surly mood. Latin America desperately wants increased access to markets in the United States and Europe, but the region doesn’t want to pursue trade deals on what it perceives to be unfair terms. (Newsweek)

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Debt crises broke out in the 1980s.A.RightB.WrongC.Doesn't say

Which of the following best summarizes the U. S. economic situation today?[A]American economists are painting a gloomy picture.[B]It is slowly warming up with moderate growth.[C]Recession may come back anytime in the coming months.[D]Most sectors are picking up at a surprisingly fast pace.

In 1784, five years before he became president of the United States, George Washington,52, was nearly toothless. So he hired a dentist to transplant nine teeth into his jaw-having extracted them from the mouths of his slaves.That's a far different image from the cherry-tree-chopping George most people remember from their history books. But recently, many historians have begun to focus on the roles slavery played in the lives of the founding generation. They have been spurred in part by DNA evidence made available in 1998, which almost certainly proved Thomas Jefferson had fathered at least one child with his slave Sally Hemings. And only over the past 30 years have scholars examined history from the bottom up. Works of several historians reveal the moral compromises made by the nation's early leaders and the fragile nature of the country's infancy. More significantly, they argue that many of the Founding Fathers knew slavery was wrong-and yet most did little to fight it.More than anything, the historians say, the founders were hampered by the culture of their time. While Washington and Jefferson privately expressed distaste for slavery, they also understood that it was part of the political and economic bedrock of the country they helped to create.For one thing, the South could not afford to part with its slaves. Owning slaves was "like having a large bank account," says Wiencek, author of An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and The Creation of America. The southern states would not have signed the Constitution without protections for the "peculiar institution," including a clause that counted a slave as three fifths of a man for purposes of congressional representation.And the statesmen's political lives depended on slavery. The three-fifths formula handed Jefferson his narrow victory in the presidential election of 1800 by inflating the votes of the southern states in the Electoral College. Once in office, Jefferson extended slavery with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803; the new land was carved into 13 states, including three slave states.Still, Jefferson freed Hemings's children-though not Hemings herself or his approximately 150 other slaves. Washington, who had begun to believe that all men were created equal after observing the bravery of the black soldiers during the Revolutionary War, overcame the strong opposition of his relatives to grant his slaves their freedom in his will. Only a decade earlier, such an act would have required legislative approval in Virginia.Washington's decision to free slaves originated from his__A.moral considerationsB.military experienceC.financial conditionsD.political stanD.

In 1784, five years before he became president of the United States, George Washington,52, was nearly toothless. So he hired a dentist to transplant nine teeth into his jaw-having extracted them from the mouths of his slaves.That's a far different image from the cherry-tree-chopping George most people remember from their history books. But recently, many historians have begun to focus on the roles slavery played in the lives of the founding generation. They have been spurred in part by DNA evidence made available in 1998, which almost certainly proved Thomas Jefferson had fathered at least one child with his slave Sally Hemings. And only over the past 30 years have scholars examined history from the bottom up. Works of several historians reveal the moral compromises made by the nation's early leaders and the fragile nature of the country's infancy. More significantly, they argue that many of the Founding Fathers knew slavery was wrong-and yet most did little to fight it.More than anything, the historians say, the founders were hampered by the culture of their time. While Washington and Jefferson privately expressed distaste for slavery, they also understood that it was part of the political and economic bedrock of the country they helped to create.For one thing, the South could not afford to part with its slaves. Owning slaves was "like having a large bank account," says Wiencek, author of An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and The Creation of America. The southern states would not have signed the Constitution without protections for the "peculiar institution," including a clause that counted a slave as three fifths of a man for purposes of congressional representation.And the statesmen's political lives depended on slavery. The three-fifths formula handed Jefferson his narrow victory in the presidential election of 1800 by inflating the votes of the southern states in the Electoral College. Once in office, Jefferson extended slavery with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803; the new land was carved into 13 states, including three slave states.Still, Jefferson freed Hemings's children-though not Hemings herself or his approximately 150 other slaves. Washington, who had begun to believe that all men were created equal after observing the bravery of the black soldiers during the Revolutionary War, overcame the strong opposition of his relatives to grant his slaves their freedom in his will. Only a decade earlier, such an act would have required legislative approval in Virginia.We may infer from the second paragraph that__A.DNA technology has been widely applied to history researchB.in its early days the U.S. was confronted with delicate situationsC.historians deliberately made up some stories of Jefferson's lifeD.political compromises are easily found throughout the U.S. history

Text 3 The relationship between formal education and economic growth in poor countries is widely misunderstood by economists and politicians alike.Progress in both area is undoubtedly necessary for the social,political and intellectual development of these and all other societies;however,the conventional view that education should be one of the very highest priorities for promoting rapid economic development in poor countries is wrong.We are fortunate that is it,because building new educational systems there and putting enough people through them to improve economic performance would require two or three generations.The findings of a research institution have consistently shown that workers in all countries can be trained on the job to achieve radically higher productivity and,as a result,radically higher standards of living.Ironically,the first evidence for this idea appeared in the United States.Not long ago,with the country entering a recessing and Japan at its pre-bubble peak.The U.S.workforce was derided as poorly educated and one of the primary cause of the poor U.S.economic performance.Japan was,and remains,the global leader in automotive-assembly productivity.Yet the research revealed that the U.S.factories of Honda,Nissan,and Toyota achieved about 95 percent of the productivity of their Japanese counterparts--a result of the training that U.S.workers received on the job.More recently,while examining housing construction,the researchers discovered that illiterate,non-English-speaking Mexican workers in Houston,Texas,consistently met best-practice labor productivity standards despite the complexity of the building industry's work.What is the real relationship between education and economic development?We have to suspect that continuing economic growth promotes the development of education even when governments don't force it.After all,that's how education got started.When our ancestors were hunters and gatherers 10,000 years ago,they didn't have time to wonder much about anything besides finding food.Only when humanity began to get its food in a more productive way was there time for other things.As education improved,humanity's productivity potential increased as well.When the competitive environment pushed our ancestors to achieve that potential,they could in turn afford more education.This increasingly high level of education is probably a necessary,but not a sufficient,condition for the complex political systems required by advanced economic performance.Thus poor countries might not be able to escape their poverty traps without political changes that may be possible only with broader formal education.A lack of formal education,however,doesn't constrain the ability of the developing world's workforce to substantially improve productivity for the foreseeable future.On the contrary,constraints on improving productivity explain why education isn't developing more quickly there than it is.33.A major difference between the Japanese and U.S workforces is that__________.A.the Japanese workforce is better disciplinedB.the Japanese workforce is more productiveC.the U.S workforce has a better educationD.the U.S workforce is more organize

Text 4 In 1784,five years before he became president of the United States,George Washington,52,was nearly toothless.So he hired a dentist to transplant nine teeth into his jaw–having extracted them from the mouths of his slaves.That’s a far different image from the cherry-tree-chopping George most people remember from their history books.But recently,many historians have begun to focus on the roles slavery played in the lives of the founding generation.They have been spurred in part by DNA evidence made available in 1998,which almost certainly proved Thomas Jefferson had fathered at least one child with his slave Sally Hemings.And only over the past 30 years have scholars examined history from the bottom up.Works of several historians reveal the moral compromises made by the nation’s early leaders and the fragile nature of the country’s infancy.More significantly,they argue that many of the Founding Fathers knew slavery was wrong–and yet most did little to fight it.More than anything,the historians say,the founders were hampered by the culture of their time.While Washington and Jefferson privately expressed distaste for slavery,they also understood that it was part of the political and economic bedrock of the country they helped to create.For one thing,the South could not afford to part with its slaves.Owning slaves was“like having a large bank account,”says Wiencek,author of An Imperfect God:George Washington,His Slaves,and the Creation of America.The southern states would not have signed the Constitution without protections for the“peculiar institution,”including a clause that counted a slave as three fifths of a man for purposes of congressional representation.And the statesmen’s political lives depended on slavery.The three-fifths formula handed Jefferson his narrow victory in the presidential election of 1800 by inflating the votes of the southern states in the Electoral College.Once in office,Jefferson extended slavery with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803;the new land was carved into 13 states,including three slave states.Still,Jefferson freed Hemings’s children–though not Hemings herself or his approximately 150 other slaves.Washington,who had begun to believe that all men were created equal after observing the bravery of the black soldiers during the Revolutionary War,overcame the strong opposition of his relatives to grant his slaves their freedom in his will.Only a decade earlier,such an act would have required legislative approval in Virginia.37.We may infer from the second paragraph thatA.DNA technology has been widely applied to history research.B.in its early days the U.S.was confronted with delicate situations.C.historians deliberately made up some stories of Jefferson’s life.D.political compromises are easily found throughout the

Text 4 In 1784,five years before he became president of the United States,George Washington,52,was nearly toothless.So he hired a dentist to transplant nine teeth into his jaw–having extracted them from the mouths of his slaves.That’s a far different image from the cherry-tree-chopping George most people remember from their history books.But recently,many historians have begun to focus on the roles slavery played in the lives of the founding generation.They have been spurred in part by DNA evidence made available in 1998,which almost certainly proved Thomas Jefferson had fathered at least one child with his slave Sally Hemings.And only over the past 30 years have scholars examined history from the bottom up.Works of several historians reveal the moral compromises made by the nation’s early leaders and the fragile nature of the country’s infancy.More significantly,they argue that many of the Founding Fathers knew slavery was wrong–and yet most did little to fight it.More than anything,the historians say,the founders were hampered by the culture of their time.While Washington and Jefferson privately expressed distaste for slavery,they also understood that it was part of the political and economic bedrock of the country they helped to create.For one thing,the South could not afford to part with its slaves.Owning slaves was“like having a large bank account,”says Wiencek,author of An Imperfect God:George Washington,His Slaves,and the Creation of America.The southern states would not have signed the Constitution without protections for the“peculiar institution,”including a clause that counted a slave as three fifths of a man for purposes of congressional representation.And the statesmen’s political lives depended on slavery.The three-fifths formula handed Jefferson his narrow victory in the presidential election of 1800 by inflating the votes of the southern states in the Electoral College.Once in office,Jefferson extended slavery with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803;the new land was carved into 13 states,including three slave states.Still,Jefferson freed Hemings’s children–though not Hemings herself or his approximately 150 other slaves.Washington,who had begun to believe that all men were created equal after observing the bravery of the black soldiers during the Revolutionary War,overcame the strong opposition of his relatives to grant his slaves their freedom in his will.Only a decade earlier,such an act would have required legislative approval in Virginia.40.Washington’s decision to free slaves originated from hisA.moral considerations.B.military experience.C.financial conditions.D.political stand.

Text 4 In 1784,five years before he became president of the United States,George Washington,52,was nearly toothless.So he hired a dentist to transplant nine teeth into his jaw–having extracted them from the mouths of his slaves.That’s a far different image from the cherry-tree-chopping George most people remember from their history books.But recently,many historians have begun to focus on the roles slavery played in the lives of the founding generation.They have been spurred in part by DNA evidence made available in 1998,which almost certainly proved Thomas Jefferson had fathered at least one child with his slave Sally Hemings.And only over the past 30 years have scholars examined history from the bottom up.Works of several historians reveal the moral compromises made by the nation’s early leaders and the fragile nature of the country’s infancy.More significantly,they argue that many of the Founding Fathers knew slavery was wrong–and yet most did little to fight it.More than anything,the historians say,the founders were hampered by the culture of their time.While Washington and Jefferson privately expressed distaste for slavery,they also understood that it was part of the political and economic bedrock of the country they helped to create.For one thing,the South could not afford to part with its slaves.Owning slaves was“like having a large bank account,”says Wiencek,author of An Imperfect God:George Washington,His Slaves,and the Creation of America.The southern states would not have signed the Constitution without protections for the“peculiar institution,”including a clause that counted a slave as three fifths of a man for purposes of congressional representation.And the statesmen’s political lives depended on slavery.The three-fifths formula handed Jefferson his narrow victory in the presidential election of 1800 by inflating the votes of the southern states in the Electoral College.Once in office,Jefferson extended slavery with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803;the new land was carved into 13 states,including three slave states.Still,Jefferson freed Hemings’s children–though not Hemings herself or his approximately 150 other slaves.Washington,who had begun to believe that all men were created equal after observing the bravery of the black soldiers during the Revolutionary War,overcame the strong opposition of his relatives to grant his slaves their freedom in his will.Only a decade earlier,such an act would have required legislative approval in Virginia.36.George Washington’s dental surgery is mentioned toA.show the primitive medical practice in the past.B.demonstrate the cruelty of slavery in his days.C.stress the role of slaves in the U.S.history.D.reveal some unknown aspect of his life.

Passage 1Earlier this year, when America first sneezed, the European Central Bank (along with most private-sector economists) argued that the euro area was insulated from America's slowdown and had little to worry about. This seems to have wrong. In Germany there are fears about recession as business investment and retail sales tumble. Recent figures confirmed that Germany’s GDP stagnated in the second quarter. Italy's GDP fell in the second quarter, and although growth has held up better in France and Spain, the growth in the euro area as a whole was close to zero in the quarter. Nobody is forecasting an actual recession in the euro area this year, but it is no longer expected to provide an engine for world growth.As for Japan, it is probably already in recession. Japan's GDP grew slightly in the first quarter. Persistent deflation continues to be a severe problem. A revised measure of Japan’s consumer-price index, to be published soon, is likely to show that deflation is worse than had been thought.What was the economic situation in France and Spain?A. Much better B. Somewhat better.C. Close to zero. D. Much worse.

Passage 1Earlier this year, when America first sneezed, the European Central Bank (along with most private-sector economists) argued that the euro area was insulated from America's slowdown and had little to worry about. This seems to have wrong. In Germany there are fears about recession as business investment and retail sales tumble. Recent figures confirmed that Germany’s GDP stagnated in the second quarter. Italy's GDP fell in the second quarter, and although growth has held up better in France and Spain, the growth in the euro area as a whole was close to zero in the quarter. Nobody is forecasting an actual recession in the euro area this year, but it is no longer expected to provide an engine for world growth.As for Japan, it is probably already in recession. Japan's GDP grew slightly in the first quarter. Persistent deflation continues to be a severe problem. A revised measure of Japan’s consumer-price index, to be published soon, is likely to show that deflation is worse than had been thought.The best title for the passage is ___.A. The world economic situation.B. The world economic recession.C. The worse world economic situation.D. The reason for world economic recession.

Text 4 The great recession may be over,but this era of high joblessness is probably beginning.Before it ends,it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults.And ultimately,it is likely to reshape our politics,our culture,and the character of our society for years.No one tries harder than the jobless to find silver linings in this national economic disaster.Many said that unemployment,while extremely painful,had improved them in some ways:they had become less materialistic and more financially prudent;they were more aware of the struggles of others.In limited respects,perhaps the recession will leave society better off.At the very least,it has awoken us from our national fever dream of easy riches and bigger houses,and put a necessary end to an era of reckless personal spending.But for the most part,these benefits seem thin,uncertain,and far off.In The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth,the economic historian Benjamin Friedman argues that both inside and outside the U.S.,lengthy periods of economic stagnation or decline have almost always left society more meanspirited and less inclusive,and have usually stopped or reversed the advance of rights and freedoms.Antiimmigrant sentiment typically increases,as does conflict between races and classes.Income inequality usually falls during a recession,but it has not shrunk in this one.Indeed,this period of economic weakness may reinforce class divides,and decrease opportunities to cross them—especially for young people.The research of Till Von Wachter,the economic at Columbia University,suggests that not all people graduating into a recession see their life chances dimmed:those with degrees from elite universities catch up fairly quickly to where they otherwise would have been if they had graduated in better times;it is the masses beneath them that are left behind.In the Internet age,it is particularly easy to see the resentment that has always been hidden within American society.More difficult,in the moment,is discerning precisely how these lean times are affecting society's character.In many respects,the U.S.was more socially tolerant entering this recession than at any time in its history,and a variety of national polls on social conflict since then have shown mixed results.We will have to wait and see exactly how these hard times will reshape our social fabric.But they certainly will reshape it,and all the more so the longer they extend.The author thinks that the influence of hard times on society is____A.certainB.positiveC.trivialD.destructive

Text 4 The great recession may be over,but this era of high joblessness is probably beginning.Before it ends,it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults.And ultimately,it is likely to reshape our politics,our culture,and the character of our society for years.No one tries harder than the jobless to find silver linings in this national economic disaster.Many said that unemployment,while extremely painful,had improved them in some ways:they had become less materialistic and more financially prudent;they were more aware of the struggles of others.In limited respects,perhaps the recession will leave society better off.At the very least,it has awoken us from our national fever dream of easy riches and bigger houses,and put a necessary end to an era of reckless personal spending.But for the most part,these benefits seem thin,uncertain,and far off.In The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth,the economic historian Benjamin Friedman argues that both inside and outside the U.S.,lengthy periods of economic stagnation or decline have almost always left society more meanspirited and less inclusive,and have usually stopped or reversed the advance of rights and freedoms.Antiimmigrant sentiment typically increases,as does conflict between races and classes.Income inequality usually falls during a recession,but it has not shrunk in this one.Indeed,this period of economic weakness may reinforce class divides,and decrease opportunities to cross them—especially for young people.The research of Till Von Wachter,the economic at Columbia University,suggests that not all people graduating into a recession see their life chances dimmed:those with degrees from elite universities catch up fairly quickly to where they otherwise would have been if they had graduated in better times;it is the masses beneath them that are left behind.In the Internet age,it is particularly easy to see the resentment that has always been hidden within American society.More difficult,in the moment,is discerning precisely how these lean times are affecting society's character.In many respects,the U.S.was more socially tolerant entering this recession than at any time in its history,and a variety of national polls on social conflict since then have shown mixed results.We will have to wait and see exactly how these hard times will reshape our social fabric.But they certainly will reshape it,and all the more so the longer they extend.The research of Till Von Wachter suggests that in the recession graduates from elite universities tend to____A.lag behind the others due to decreased opportunitiesB.catch up quickly with experienced employeesC.see their life chances as dimmed as the others'D.recover more quickly than the others

Text 4 The great recession may be over,but this era of high joblessness is probably beginning.Before it ends,it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults.And ultimately,it is likely to reshape our politics,our culture,and the character of our society for years.No one tries harder than the jobless to find silver linings in this national economic disaster.Many said that unemployment,while extremely painful,had improved them in some ways:they had become less materialistic and more financially prudent;they were more aware of the struggles of others.In limited respects,perhaps the recession will leave society better off.At the very least,it has awoken us from our national fever dream of easy riches and bigger houses,and put a necessary end to an era of reckless personal spending.But for the most part,these benefits seem thin,uncertain,and far off.In The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth,the economic historian Benjamin Friedman argues that both inside and outside the U.S.,lengthy periods of economic stagnation or decline have almost always left society more meanspirited and less inclusive,and have usually stopped or reversed the advance of rights and freedoms.Antiimmigrant sentiment typically increases,as does conflict between races and classes.Income inequality usually falls during a recession,but it has not shrunk in this one.Indeed,this period of economic weakness may reinforce class divides,and decrease opportunities to cross them—especially for young people.The research of Till Von Wachter,the economic at Columbia University,suggests that not all people graduating into a recession see their life chances dimmed:those with degrees from elite universities catch up fairly quickly to where they otherwise would have been if they had graduated in better times;it is the masses beneath them that are left behind.In the Internet age,it is particularly easy to see the resentment that has always been hidden within American society.More difficult,in the moment,is discerning precisely how these lean times are affecting society's character.In many respects,the U.S.was more socially tolerant entering this recession than at any time in its history,and a variety of national polls on social conflict since then have shown mixed results.We will have to wait and see exactly how these hard times will reshape our social fabric.But they certainly will reshape it,and all the more so the longer they extend.Benjamin Friedman believes that economic recessions may____A.impose a heavier burden on immigrantsB.bring out more evils of human natureC.promote the advance of rights and freedomsD.ease conflicts between races and classes

Text 4 The great recession may be over,but this era of high joblessness is probably beginning.Before it ends,it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults.And ultimately,it is likely to reshape our politics,our culture,and the character of our society for years.No one tries harder than the jobless to find silver linings in this national economic disaster.Many said that unemployment,while extremely painful,had improved them in some ways:they had become less materialistic and more financially prudent;they were more aware of the struggles of others.In limited respects,perhaps the recession will leave society better off.At the very least,it has awoken us from our national fever dream of easy riches and bigger houses,and put a necessary end to an era of reckless personal spending.But for the most part,these benefits seem thin,uncertain,and far off.In The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth,the economic historian Benjamin Friedman argues that both inside and outside the U.S.,lengthy periods of economic stagnation or decline have almost always left society more meanspirited and less inclusive,and have usually stopped or reversed the advance of rights and freedoms.Antiimmigrant sentiment typically increases,as does conflict between races and classes.Income inequality usually falls during a recession,but it has not shrunk in this one.Indeed,this period of economic weakness may reinforce class divides,and decrease opportunities to cross them—especially for young people.The research of Till Von Wachter,the economic at Columbia University,suggests that not all people graduating into a recession see their life chances dimmed:those with degrees from elite universities catch up fairly quickly to where they otherwise would have been if they had graduated in better times;it is the masses beneath them that are left behind.In the Internet age,it is particularly easy to see the resentment that has always been hidden within American society.More difficult,in the moment,is discerning precisely how these lean times are affecting society's character.In many respects,the U.S.was more socially tolerant entering this recession than at any time in its history,and a variety of national polls on social conflict since then have shown mixed results.We will have to wait and see exactly how these hard times will reshape our social fabric.But they certainly will reshape it,and all the more so the longer they extend.According to Paragraph 2,the recession has made people_____A.realize the national dreamB.struggle against each otherC.challenge their prudenceD.reconsider their lifestyle

Text 4 The great recession may be over,but this era of high joblessness is probably beginning.Before it ends,it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults.And ultimately,it is likely to reshape our politics,our culture,and the character of our society for years.No one tries harder than the jobless to find silver linings in this national economic disaster.Many said that unemployment,while extremely painful,had improved them in some ways:they had become less materialistic and more financially prudent;they were more aware of the struggles of others.In limited respects,perhaps the recession will leave society better off.At the very least,it has awoken us from our national fever dream of easy riches and bigger houses,and put a necessary end to an era of reckless personal spending.But for the most part,these benefits seem thin,uncertain,and far off.In The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth,the economic historian Benjamin Friedman argues that both inside and outside the U.S.,lengthy periods of economic stagnation or decline have almost always left society more meanspirited and less inclusive,and have usually stopped or reversed the advance of rights and freedoms.Antiimmigrant sentiment typically increases,as does conflict between races and classes.Income inequality usually falls during a recession,but it has not shrunk in this one.Indeed,this period of economic weakness may reinforce class divides,and decrease opportunities to cross them—especially for young people.The research of Till Von Wachter,the economic at Columbia University,suggests that not all people graduating into a recession see their life chances dimmed:those with degrees from elite universities catch up fairly quickly to where they otherwise would have been if they had graduated in better times;it is the masses beneath them that are left behind.In the Internet age,it is particularly easy to see the resentment that has always been hidden within American society.More difficult,in the moment,is discerning precisely how these lean times are affecting society's character.In many respects,the U.S.was more socially tolerant entering this recession than at any time in its history,and a variety of national polls on social conflict since then have shown mixed results.We will have to wait and see exactly how these hard times will reshape our social fabric.But they certainly will reshape it,and all the more so the longer they extend.By saying“to find silver linings”(Line 1,Para.2)the author suggests that the jobless try to_____A.seek subsidies from the governmentB.explore reasons for the unemploymentC.make profits from the troubled economyD.look on the bright side of the recession

资料:Large industrialized are now in a recession. What are the prospects for economic recovery?The three most important industrial economies in the world are, at the moment, facing enormous problems. Germany is struggling with the cost of reunification and is in recession. Japan is also experiencing recession and the United States has a large budget deficit.Forecasters and analysts face questions about the prospects of an economic recovery. Here are some of their findings:The election of a new president of the United States gave hope to the rest of the world. If the US recovered, the rest of the world would face a more promising future. However, analysts now accept that the US will only recover very slowly.Consumer and investor confidence is still lacking. Large deficits and declining short-term interest rates mean there is little scope for economic stimulus.The Japanese economy, after years of trade and budget surpluses, is in deep recession and the growth rate has slowed down considerably. German economists have lowered their forecasts for economic growth this year. The lowering of German interest rates may bring some relief to other members of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). However, Germany's importance as Europe's largest export market may decline.However, in some parts of the world, there are more positive signs, particularly in some Latin American countries in South-East Asia. Analysts says that, as long as the rate of interest stays above the rate of growth at national income, then the ratio of debt to income will get worse. Falling interest rates help towards overcoming this problem. They believe it may take several years before there is real recovery. However, advances in technology are offering hope for the world economy. The tone of the passage suggest that the author is ______about the world economy.A.doubtfulB.indifferentC.positiveD.pessimistic

资料:Large industrialized are now in a recession. What are the prospects for economic recovery?The three most important industrial economies in the world are, at the moment, facing enormous problems. Germany is struggling with the cost of reunification and is in recession. Japan is also experiencing recession and the United States has a large budget deficit.Forecasters and analysts face questions about the prospects of an economic recovery. Here are some of their findings:The election of a new president of the United States gave hope to the rest of the world. If the US recovered, the rest of the world would face a more promising future. However, analysts now accept that the US will only recover very slowly.Consumer and investor confidence is still lacking. Large deficits and declining short-term interest rates mean there is little scope for economic stimulus.The Japanese economy, after years of trade and budget surpluses, is in deep recession and the growth rate has slowed down considerably. German economists have lowered their forecasts for economic growth this year. The lowering of German interest rates may bring some relief to other members of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). However, Germany's importance as Europe's largest export market may decline.However, in some parts of the world, there are more positive signs, particularly in some Latin American countries in South-East Asia. Analysts says that, as long as the rate of interest stays above the rate of growth at national income, then the ratio of debt to income will get worse. Falling interest rates help towards overcoming this problem. They believe it may take several years before there is real recovery. However, advances in technology are offering hope for the world economy.The important industrial economies mentioned in the passage are _____.A.Latin American countries and in South-East AsiaB.German, Japan and ChinaC.German, Japan and United StatesD.Not mentioned

资料:Large industrialized are now in a recession. What are the prospects for economic recovery?The three most important industrial economies in the world are, at the moment, facing enormous problems. Germany is struggling with the cost of reunification and is in recession. Japan is also experiencing recession and the United States has a large budget deficit.Forecasters and analysts face questions about the prospects of an economic recovery. Here are some of their findings:The election of a new president of the United States gave hope to the rest of the world. If the US recovered, the rest of the world would face a more promising future. However, analysts now accept that the US will only recover very slowly.Consumer and investor confidence is still lacking. Large deficits and declining short-term interest rates mean there is little scope for economic stimulus.The Japanese economy, after years of trade and budget surpluses, is in deep recession and the growth rate has slowed down considerably. German economists have lowered their forecasts for economic growth this year. The lowering of German interest rates may bring some relief to other members of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). However, Germany's importance as Europe's largest export market may decline.However, in some parts of the world, there are more positive signs, particularly in some Latin American countries in South-East Asia. Analysts says that, as long as the rate of interest stays above the rate of growth at national income, then the ratio of debt to income will get worse. Falling interest rates help towards overcoming this problem. They believe it may take several years before there is real recovery. However, advances in technology are offering hope for the world economy.According to the passage, which one is NOT true?A.Consumer and investor still hold confidence in the US economy.B.There is little scope for provoking the economy.C.US is predicted to be recovering very slowly.D.The US recovery would give the rest of the world a more promising future.

资料:Large industrialized are now in a recession. What are the prospects for economic recovery?The three most important industrial economies in the world are, at the moment, facing enormous problems. Germany is struggling with the cost of reunification and is in recession. Japan is also experiencing recession and the United States has a large budget deficit.Forecasters and analysts face questions about the prospects of an economic recovery. Here are some of their findings:The election of a new president of the United States gave hope to the rest of the world. If the US recovered, the rest of the world would face a more promising future. However, analysts now accept that the US will only recover very slowly.Consumer and investor confidence is still lacking. Large deficits and declining short-term interest rates mean there is little scope for economic stimulus.The Japanese economy, after years of trade and budget surpluses, is in deep recession and the growth rate has slowed down considerably. German economists have lowered their forecasts for economic growth this year. The lowering of German interest rates may bring some relief to other members of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). However, Germany's importance as Europe's largest export market may decline.However, in some parts of the world, there are more positive signs, particularly in some Latin American countries in South-East Asia. Analysts says that, as long as the rate of interest stays above the rate of growth at national income, then the ratio of debt to income will get worse. Falling interest rates help towards overcoming this problem. They believe it may take several years before there is real recovery. However, advances in technology are offering hope for the world economy.It could be implied that rising of the interest rate ______.A.can help towards overcoming this problem about the ratio of debt to incomeB.may lead Germany's importance as Europe’s largest export market to declineC.may bring some relief to other members of the European Exchange Rate MechanismD.None of above

资料:Large industrialized are now in a recession. What are the prospects for economic recovery?The three most important industrial economies in the world are, at the moment, facing enormous problems. Germany is struggling with the cost of reunification and is in recession. Japan is also experiencing recession and the United States has a large budget deficit.Forecasters and analysts face questions about the prospects of an economic recovery. Here are some of their findings:The election of a new president of the United States gave hope to the rest of the world. If the US recovered, the rest of the world would face a more promising future. However, analysts now accept that the US will only recover very slowly.Consumer and investor confidence is still lacking. Large deficits and declining short-term interest rates mean there is little scope for economic stimulus.The Japanese economy, after years of trade and budget surpluses, is in deep recession and the growth rate has slowed down considerably. German economists have lowered their forecasts for economic growth this year. The lowering of German interest rates may bring some relief to other members of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). However, Germany's importance as Europe's largest export market may decline.However, in some parts of the world, there are more positive signs, particularly in some Latin American countries in South-East Asia. Analysts says that, as long as the rate of interest stays above the rate of growth at national income, then the ratio of debt to income will get worse. Falling interest rates help towards overcoming this problem. They believe it may take several years before there is real recovery. However, advances in technology are offering hope for the world economy.Find words or expressions in the above article which have the meaning of “The amount by which something is less than what is needed”?A.deficitB.surplusesC.declineD.recession

资料:Children back at school, nights slowly starting to draw in and the weather more changeable. The seasons are turning and after an eerily calm summer for financial markets, there's a whiff of uncertainty in the air. Bond yields are up from their lows, and the relentless migration of global capital towards any asset, anywhere, with some yield, is slowing.The concern is the growing awareness of central banks' waning ability to boost growth with ever-lower interest rates and ever-bigger purchases of assets. The debate about if, when and how slowly the US Federal Reserve will raise interest drags on, but if downward pressure on global bond yields from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) largesse is drawing to a close, that's a bigger milestone for markets. A world of higher bond yields is one where the pressure to seek yield in exotic places is diminished. It's also a world where the capital gains that accompanied falling yields become capital losses and investors question the merit of bonds over cash (or equities).This search for yield in exotic places has, since the end of January, helped the Brazilian real gain more than 20% against the US dollar, with the Russian rouble managing almost as much. The dollar, itself, has fallen back is by 7.5% fall in trade-weighted terms, unwinding nearly 40% of the gains it has seen since mind-2014. There's no need to panic about bond yields rising, because rate rises in Japan or the Eurozone are years away and the Fed's still tinkering. But 10-year yields on both German and Japanese government bond yields fell below zero for the first time in late June. They have been edging higher through the summer. It's almost as if investors really aren't that keen on tying money up at negative yields for that long – why not stick to cash?In the US, estimates of "neutral" real interest rates are tumbling to around zero. Estimates of how much slack there is left in the labour market are being revised up and after five years when productivity growth has averaged a measly 0.5%, there's widespread acceptance that it's unlikely to accelerate by magic. But even if we take all of this into account, markets are now pricing in an extraordinarily slow pace of rate hikes by the Fed – from their current 0.25-0.5% range, to about 0.75% by the end of 2017 and to 1% by the end of 2018.GDP growth still oscillates around 2%, the Fed's favoured measure of inflation is at 1.6% and the unemployment rate is trending lower. The pricing of the future path of short term rates seems too low even for the "new normal" economic environment. All of these currencies have gained against the pound and I can't see that changing. Too much importance should not be placed on either the collapse in confidence immediately after the vote to leave the EU or the subsequent bounce.The economic impact of leaving the EU will be felt through delayed investment decisions as a result of uncertainty about when and on what terms it happens. A debilitating rather than a corrosive impact on the economy will be seen in slower, but positive growth. It will also be felt in further (slower) sterling weakness. The Bank of England has already cut policy rates from 0.5% to 0.25%, and there's more to come from both the Bank and the pound over the next year. A 5% fall from here would take the pound close to €1.1, and we could see it fall below $1.25 as the Federal Reserve edges rates higher.According to the the passage and the regularity of rate hikes fixed by the fed in the past years,which of the following average percentage of rates will rise each of the coming years?A.0.75%B.0.5%C.0.25%D.1%

Mrs.Moorman couldn't tolerate with his rudeness any more.A:put up with B:forgiveC:refuse D:permit

问答题Practice 2George Soros the Financial Crocodile  “The US governs the international system to protect its own economy. It is not in charge of protecting other economies. ”Soros says. “So when America goes into recession, you have anti- recessionary policies. When other countries are in recession, they don’t have the ability to engage in anti-recessionary policies because they can’t have a permissive monetary policy, because money would flee. ” In person, he has the air of a philosophy professor rather than a gimlet-eyed financier. In a soft voice which bears the faces of his native Hungary, he argues that it is time to rewrite the so-called Washington consensus—the cocktail of liberalization, privatization and fiscal rectitude which the IMF has been preaching for 15 years. Developing countries no longer have the freedom to run their own economies, he argues, even when they follow perfectly sound policies. He cites Brazil, which although it has a floating currency and manageable public debt was paying ten times over the odds to borrow from capital markets.  Soros credits the anti-globalization movement for having made companies more sensitive to their wider responsibilities. “I think [the protesters] have made an important contribution by making people aware of the flaws of the system,” he says. “People on the street had an impact on public opinion and corporations which sell to the public responded to that.” Because the IMF has abandoned billion dollar bailouts for troubled economies, he thinks a repeat of the Asian crisis is unlikely. The fund ‘s new “tough love” policy—for which Argentina is the guinea pig——has other consequences. The bailouts were a welfare system for Wall Street, with western taxpayers rescuing the banks from the consequences of unwise lending to emerging economies. Now the IMF has drawn a line in the sand, credit to poor countries is drying up. “It has created a new problem-the inadequacy of the flow of capital from center to the periphery,” he says.  The one economy Soros is not losing any sleep about is the US. “I am much more positive about the underlying economy than I am about the market, because we are waging war not only on terrorism but also on recession.” he says. “I have not yet seen an economy in recession when you are gearing up for war.” He worries that the world’s largest economic power is not living up to its responsibilities. “I would like the United States to live up to the responsibilities of its hegemonic(霸权的) power because it is not going to give up its hegemonic power, ” he says. “The only thing that is realistic is for the United States to become aware that it is in its enlightened self- interest to ensure that the rest of the world benefits from their role.”

问答题Practice 1  The catchphrase of the hour is that America is living beyond its means. The expression is used so much by politicians, economists and editorial writers that it is depreciating faster than the dollar. But there's no way around it. It tells the story. The Data Resources numbers show Americans increase their spending this year almost three times as fast as their after-tax income. What else can we explain it? What is more, as a nation, the U.S. has been doing the same thing throughout the 1990s. For years the country has been consuming more than it produces, making up the difference by borrowing abroad. It can't go on.  The stock market's tumble, which has caused a loss of $1 trillion in paper wealth, is but the first step in a process that must sober the nation. At the same time, in the next few years the U. S. will have to throw its amazing dream machine into reverse and start paying its debts. Inevitably, this will mean a lowering in the U.S. standard of living as Americans are forced to produce more than they consume to service a soaring foreign debt. Per capital income may keep rising but more slowly than in the past. The trade account will go slowly towards balance or even surplus in the mid-1990s. But in the meantime, Americans will receive less for their exports because the dollar will fall considerably before U. S. exports are competitive. And pressures to reduce the federal deficit will tighten the lid on defense spending.

问答题Practice 6  The financial crisis presents an opportunity for China to seize the leadership baton for globalization and become its centre for goods, services and capital, while catalyzing a new China boom that could last a decade or longer. That boom could turn China into the world’s largest economy—and a developed country—within two decades.  The global economy has run like a motorcycle, with American consumption as one wheel and China’s savings as the other, with everyone else piled up on top. The sustainability of this world depended on foreigners believing in the Wall Street debt instruments that paid for America’s imports while keeping inflation at bay. Inflation came three years ago with surging oil prices. The tightening that accompanied it burst the US property bubble in 2006. It took another year for the subprime market, and still another for financial derivatives, to blow up. The resulting crisis has destroyed Wall Street’s credibility. The motorcycle economy has fallen over.  The global financial crisis is casting a shadow over globalization. Developed economies may resort to protectionism to keep jobs at home, leading to a vicious cycle of recession and more protectionism. China is in a position to carry the baton for globalization.

问答题Practice 10  The momentum is building ahead of next month’s G8 summit in Scotland where the leaders of the world’s richest nations will debate what they can do to help some of the world’s poorest. Africa is the priority and the politicians will discuss reducing the debt burden, ending trade regulations which put the continent’s economy at a disadvantage, and giving more aid. Mark Doyle, who’s reported from Africa for many years, looks at why aid is necessary, and why much of what’s been donated in the past has not worked.  All around the edge of Africa-along the coastline, near the continents’ ports—are monuments to exploitation. On the island of Goree, for example, just off the coast of Senegal, there’s: the Slave House. This was the last place many Africans saw before being shipped off to a lifetime of slavery in American or, just as often, to death on the high seas.  There are many more places like this dating from the three hundred and fifty years or so of the African slave trade. When people wonder why Africa is so poor, they need look no further for the start of an explanation.

单选题The main cause of the layoffs in the pottery industry is _____.Athe increased value of the poundBthe economic recession in AsiaCthe change in people’s way of lifeDthe fierce competition at home and abroad