2004年Text 3
 
　　When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero isn't biting her nails just yet. But the 47-year-old manicurist isn't cutting, filing or polishing as many nails as she'd like to. Most of her clients spend $12 to $50 weekly, but last month two longtime customers suddenly stopped showing up. Spero blames the softening economy. "I'm a good economic indicator," she says. "I provide a service that people can do without when they're concerned about saving some dollars." So Spero is downscaling, shopping at a middle-brow Dillard's department store near her suburban Cleveland home, instead of Neiman Marcus. "I don't know if other clients are going to abandon me, too." she says.
 
　　Even before Alan Greenspan's admission that America's red-hot economy is cooling, lots of working folks had already seen signs of the slowdown themselves. From car dealerships to Gap outlets, sales have been lagging for months as shoppers temper their spending. For retailers, who last year took in 24 percent of their revenue between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cautious approach is coming at a crucial time. Already, experts say, holiday sales are off 7 percent from last year's pace. But don't sound any alarms just yet. Consumers seem only mildly concerned, not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy's long-term prospects, even as they do some modest belt-tightening.
 
　　Consumers say they're not in despair because, despite the dreadful headlines, their own fortunes still feel pretty good. Home prices are holding steady in most regions. 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 Barbara Corcoran. In San Francisco, prices are still rising even as frenzied overbidding quiets. "Instead of 20 to 30 offers, now maybe you only get two or three," says John Deadly, a Bay 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 home buyers would cheer for lower interest rates. Employers wouldn't mind a little fewer bubbles in the job market. Many consumers seem to have been influenced by stock-market swings, which investors now view as a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom. Diners might see an upside, too. Getting a table at Manhattan's hot new Alain Ducasse restaurant used to be impossible. Not anymore. For that, Greenspan & Co. may still be worth toasting.

55. 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.

[答案] C

[解題思路]

　　本題是對全文中心思想的概括。A選項是錯誤的，因為原文并沒有明確指出新的經濟繁榮即將來臨。B選項中的語氣過于悲觀，與原文的樂觀基調南轅北轍，因而也是錯誤的。D選項也不正確，因為本文主要談論的不是投資的問題。而C選項正確地表達了原文所要傳遞的信息，即面對經濟的不景氣人們要謹慎地關注，但仍要保持樂觀情緒。

[題目譯文]

作者可能會同意以下哪個觀點？
[A] 新的繁榮即將到來
[B] 勒緊腰帶是唯一的辦法
[C] 需謹慎、莫恐慌
[D] 風險越大、機會越多

【推薦】考生必看：背誦100句涵蓋所有考研英語單詞

　　　　考研英語歷年真題來源報刊閱讀理解100篇匯總

　　　　一針見血點破09考研英語復習中的慣性思維