Section Ⅲ Reading Comprehension
(50 minutes)
Part A：Read the following texts and answer the questions which accompany them by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1.
Text 1
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.
