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  3. In the past, falling oil prices have given a boost to the world economy, but recent forecasts for global growth have been toned

In the past, falling oil prices have given a boost to the world economy, but recent forecasts for global growth have been toned

admin2021-01-06  22
问题     In the past, falling oil prices have given a boost to the world economy, but recent forecasts for global growth have been toned down, even as oil prices sink lower and lower. Does that mean the link between lower oil prices and growth has weakened?
    Some experts say there are still good reasons to believe cheap oil should heat up the world economy. Consumers have more money in their pockets when they’re paying less at the pump. They spend that money on other things, which stimulates the economy.
    The biggest gains go to countries that import most of their oil like China, Japan, and India. But doesn’t the extra money in the pockets of those countries’ consumers mean an equal loss in oil-producing countries, cancelling out the gains? Not necessarily, say economic researcher Sara Johnson. " Many oil producers built up huge reserve funds when prices were high, so when prices fall they will draw on their reserves to support government spending and subsidies(补贴)for their consumers. "
    But not all oil producers have big reserves. In Venezuela, collapsing oil prices have sent its economy into free-fall.
    Economist Carl Weinberg believes the negative effects of plunging oil prices are overwhelming the positive effects of cheaper oil. The implication is a sharp decline in global trade, which has plunged partly because oil-producing nations can’t afford to import as much as they used to.
    Sara Johnson acknowledges that the global economic benefit from a fall in oil prices today is likely lower than it was in the past. One reason is that more countries are big oil producers now, so the nations suffering from the price drop account for a larger share of the global economy.
    Consumers, in the U. S. at least, are acting cautiously with the savings they’re getting at the gas pump, as the memory of the recent great recession is still fresh in their mind. And a number of oil-producing countries are trimming their gasoline subsidies and raising taxes, so the net savings for global consumers is not as big as the oil price plunge might suggest.
Why do some experts believe cheap oil will stimulate the global economy?
选项 A、Manufacturers can produce consumer goods at a much lower cost.
B、Lower oil prices have always given a big boost to the global economy.
C、Oil prices may rise or fall but economic laws are not subject to change.
D、Consumers will spend their savings from cheap oil on other commodities.
答案D
解析 文中第二段提到了专家的看法：消费者们在加油站花的钱少了，口袋里有了更多的钱消费在其他方面，从而刺激经济。故答案为D)。
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