The Slowing Economy When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero isn’t biting her nails just yet. But the 47-year-old m

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问题                        The Slowing Economy
    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, either. Most of her clients spend $ 12 to $50 weekly, but last month two long time 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 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 of 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(疯狂的) overbidding quiets. "Instead of 20 to 30 offers, now maybe you only get two or three," says John Tealdi, 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.
Why can many people see "silver linings" to the economic slowdown? ______

选项 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.

答案A

解析 本题的考点是因果关系常考。最后一段第一句是个观点句,下文紧接着是事实句,谈到想买房子的人会为低利率而高兴,老板们也不会在意就业市场少几个泡沫,投资者将股市的波动看作是持续增长的必要因素,吃饭的人也能得到好处。事实为观点服务,观点体现在事实里。如果看不懂观点,归纳总结事实即可。综合以上的事实,可以得出结论,许多人将会从中受益,A项是近义改写,因而是解。文章提到的是stock market swings(股市波动)而不是恢复,B项与文意不符,不是解。文中提到“….investors now view as a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom.”但只是投资者的看法,并不是事实,C项曲解文意,不是解。文中没有提到购买力将提高的问题,D项文中未提及,也不是解。
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