阅读理解 实战演练 三

（三）

The domestic economy in the United States expanded in a remarkably vigorous and steady fashion. The revival in consumer confidence was reflected in the higher proportion of incomes spent for goods and services and the marked increase in consumer willingness to take on installment debt. A parallel strengthening in business psychology was manifested in a stepped-up rate of plant and equipment spending and a gradual pickup in expenses for inventory. Confidence in the economy was also reflected in the strength of the stock market and in the stability of the bond market. For the year as a whole, consumer and business sentiment benefited from the ease in East-West tensions.

The bases of the business expansion were to be found mainly in the stimulative monetary and fiscal policies that had been pursued. Moreover, the restoration of sounder liquidity positions and tighter management control of production efficiency had also helped lay the groundwork for a strong expansion. In addition, the economic policy moves made by the President had served to renew optimism on the business outlook while boosting hopes that inflation would be brought under more effective control. Finally, of course, the economy was able to grow as vigorously as it did because sufficient leeway existed in terms of idle men and machines.

The United States balance of payments deficit declined sharply. Nevertheless, by any other test, the deficit remained very large, and there was actually a substantial deterioration in our trade account to a sizable deficit, almost two-thirds of which was with Japan. While the overall trade performance proved disappointing, there are still good reasons for expecting the delayed impact of devaluation to produce in time a significant strengthening in our trade picture. Given the size of the Japanese component of our trade deficit, however, the outcome will depend importantly on the extent of the corrective measures undertaken by Japan. Also important will be our own efforts in the United States to fashion internal policies consistent with an improvement in our external balance.

The underlying task of public policy for the year ahead—and indeed for the longer run—remained a familiar one: to strike the right balance between encouraging healthy economic growth and avoiding inflationary pressures. With the economy showing sustained and vigorous growth, and with the currency crisis highlighting the need to improve our competitive posture internationally, the emphasis seemed to be shifting to the problem of inflation. The Phase Three program of wage and price restraint can contribute to reducing inflation. Unless productivity growth is unexpectedly large, however, the expansion of real output must eventually begin to slow down to the economy's larger run growth potential if generalized demand pressures on prices are to be avoided.

［词汇提示］

inventory n. 存货

fiscal adj. 财务的

liquidity n. 周转率，清偿力

leeway n. 余地

given prep. 鉴于，由于

1. The author mentions increased installment debt in the first paragraph in order to show________.

A. the continuing expansion of the economy

B. the growth of consumer purchasing power

C. the consumers' confidence in the economy

D. the soaring consumer incomes for spending

2. Paragraph 2 mainly deals with________.

A. the revival of stronger liquidity positions

B. the stimulative monetary and fiscal policies

C. the causes of business development for the period

D. economic policy measures suggested by the President

3. It can be inferred from the third paragraph that the author's attitude toward the reduction of the international payments deficit seems________.

A. bitter-sweet

B. optimistic

C. sympathetic

D. depressing

4. Part of the public policy task, as outlined in the text, is to________.

A. prevent payments deficit

B. avoid inflationary pressures

C. devalue the dollar

D. increase the balance of trade

5. It can be learned from the last paragraph that the Phase Three program contained________.

A. reduced government spending

B. devaluation of the dollar

C. productivity measures

D. wage and price controls

［答案解析］

1．C。［解析］逻辑题。参见第一段第二句。从句子前后的逻辑关系可以看出：消费者分期付款债务的增加反映了他们对经济发展的信心。故应选C。A、B、D孤立起来看似乎都有道理，但从段落内部的直接逻辑关系来看似乎是答非所问，故应排除。

2．C。［解析］段落主旨题。参见第二段第一句——商业发展的基础主要可以从刺激性的货币政策和财务政策中看到，主要讨论the bases of the business expansion，选项C符合此意。

3．A。［解析］推理题＋态度题。第三段中，作者一方面表示喜，而另一方面又表示忧。可见，作者的态度是甜中有苦、忧喜参半。故答案为A。其他选项均与段落内容不符，故不能入选。

4．B。［解析］细节考查题。参见第四段第一句，避免通货膨胀压力是国家政策的部分内容。故答案为B。

5．D。［解析］推理题。参见本文最后一段倒数第二句：限制工资和价格的第三阶段计划有助于降低通货膨胀。可见D“工资和价格控制”与此相符，故答案为D。