Almost every year since the end of the financial crisis has started with rosy expectations among American forecasters, and this

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问题     Almost every year since the end of the financial crisis has started with rosy expectations among American forecasters, and this one is no different. Stock markets are buoyant, consumer confidence is improving, and economic seers are raising their growth forecasts for 2014. America’s S&P 500 share index is at a record high, after rising 30% in 2013—the biggest annual gain in almost two decades. Powered by America, global growth of close to 4% , on a purchasing-power-parity basis, seems possible. That would be nearly a full percentage point faster than 2013, and the best showing for several years.
    Yet amid the new-year cheer, it is worth remembering that almost every year since the financial crisis upbeat expectations have been disappointed. The biggest danger this time round is the optimism itself.
    All around the rich world, things are looking better. Britain’s recovery is gathering pace. Japan’s economy seems strong enough to cope with the imminent rise in its consumption tax. Even Europe’s prospects are less dismal. But America is driving this recovery.
    America’s growth rests on strong foundations. First, house-hold and corporate balance-sheets are in good shape. Unlike Europeans, who have barely reduced their private debt, Americans have put the hangover from the financial crisis behind them. The revival in house prices is testament to that. Second, thanks to cheap energy, years of wage restraint and a relatively weak dollar, America is competitive. These two factors have combined to produce faster job growth which, along with higher share prices, suggests stronger consumer spending and higher investment ahead. Finally, the fiscal squeeze is abating. In 2013 the federal government took 1. 75% of GDP out of the economy with tax rises and spending cuts. The recently agreed budget deal will help cut the fiscal squeeze to 0. 5% of GDP this year. All these factors could boost America’s growth to around 3% in 2014, well above its trend rate.
    More spending by American firms and households will, in turn, buoy demand for goods and services from everywhere from China to Germany. America’s appetite for foreign wares is not what it once was, but its economy is so big that faster spending will push up exports around the globe. The resulting support for growth will, in turn, improve domestic confidence from Europe to Japan.
According to Paragraph 3, which one is NOT true?

选项 A、Economy in Britain is becoming better.
B、Economy in Europe is not promising at all.
C、American economy is on the way to recovery.
D、Japan can tackle the problem of consumption tax.

答案B

解析 这种提问方式我们只能将四个选项逐一和原文进行比对。选项[A]Economy inBritain is becoming better相当于原文第三段第二句Britain’s recovery is gathering pace。故选项[A]是正确的,与题干所问的NOT true不符,故不是答案。选项[B]Economy in Europe isnot promising at all对应原文:Even Europe’s prospects are less dismal.其中not promising at all是否定表达,而原文的less+dismal是双重否定表肯定,其中dismal表示“凄凉的,低落的”。故这两个表达是不吻合的,该项表述错误,即为答案。选项[C]American economy is on theway to recovery意为:美国经济正在复苏的路上。该项与该段最后一句But America is drivingthis recovery(美国很好地控制着经济复苏)两个表达是吻合的,故该项也是正确的表述,即不是答案。选项[D]Japan can tackle the problem of consumption tax与原文Japan’s economyseems strong enough to cope with the imminent rise in its consumption tax也是相符的。综上所述,选项[B]是答案。
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