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.

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.

[答案] D

[解题思路]

　　本题的对应信息在文章的第一段。从上下文看来，因为美国经济发展的放缓，Spero的美甲生意不如以前那么好做了，因为她的生意是那种人们想省钱的时候就可以不用做的。但是她的生意还没到难以维持即将倒闭的程度，因此A选型错误。B选型的表述显然与原文无关。C选项有一定干扰性，题干中"biting her nails"可能会被误解作一个"bad habit"，实际上一读原文会发现该选项纯属无中生有，因而也是错误的。经过排除，即使不知道引文的含义，也可判断D为正确选项。事实上题干中这句话的意思是"Spero还没有到束手无策的时候"，与D选项的意思相符。

[题目译文]

作者说"Ellen Spero isn't biting her nails just yet"（第一段第一句）的意思是          。
[A] Spero几乎维持不了她的生意了
[B] Spero工作太忙了
[C] Spero已经改掉她的坏习惯了
[D] Spero还没有陷入绝望

53. When mentioning "the $4 million to $10 million range" (Paragraph 3) the author is talking about
[A] gold market.
[B] real estate.
[C] stock exchange.
[D] venture investment.

[答案] B

[解题思路]

　　本文较为容易定位和选择，因此从第三段从第二句话开始一直在举一个产业的例子，即房地产业，标志性的词汇有home price, real-estate broker等，而"the $4 million to $10 million range"谈论的正是纽约曼哈顿的房价，因此选项中只有B"real estate"是房地产的意思，因而是正确答案。

[题目译文]

作者提及的"the $4 million to $10 million range"（第三段第三行）意思是          。
[A] 黄金市场
[B] 房地产
[C] 股票交易
[D] 风险投资