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.

52. How do the public feel about the long-term economic situation?
[A] Optimistic     
[B] Confused       
[C] Carefree.         
[D] Panicked

[答案] A

[解題思路]

要判斷公眾對于當前經濟形勢的態度，需要從全文來把握尋找關鍵信息。其中第二段最后一句為"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"（消費者們似乎只是稍有憂慮，他們并沒有開始恐慌，許多人說他們對經濟的長遠發展還是很樂觀的，雖然他們已經勒起了褲腰帶），可見人們的態度是樂觀的，對應選項為A。C選項的錯誤在于該次過于絕對，人們并沒有完全的無憂無慮，而是"concerned"，即對經濟放緩形勢表示關注。D選項錯誤，因為原文明確指出人們"not panicked"。至于B選項也與原文意思不符。此外，文中表示公眾的樂觀情緒的還有第三段第一句中的"their own fortunes still feel pretty good"（他們感覺自己的運氣并沒有什么損失）和最后一句中的"most folks still feel pretty comfortable"（大多數人感覺還不錯）等。

[題目譯文]

公眾對目前經濟形勢是怎么想的？
[A]樂觀
[B]困惑
[C]無憂無慮
[D]恐慌