单选题 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 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 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% of their revenue between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cautious approach is coming at a crucial time. Already, experts say, holiday sales are off 7% 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 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.

单选题 How do the public feel about the current economic situation?
A. Optimistic. B. Confused.
C. Carefree. D. Panicked.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[解析] 文章第二段先列举了一些经济形势不好的例子，然后在后半段开始谈及公众对此的看法：“不过，目前还不必拉响警报。消费者好像仅仅是中度关注，没有恐慌，很多人说，即使当他们稍微勒紧裤腰带的时候，他们对经济的远景还是乐观的。”因此A项符合文意。B、D两项可以首先排除，因为被作者在文中直接否定了。从mildly concerned和do some modest belt—tightening等处可看出公众对于目前的状况态度虽然算不上极度恐慌，但也不是无忧无虑的，因此C项错误。但是，考生需要意识到A项并不是mildly concerned最直接的近义词，只是比C项更加接近而已。

单选题 When mentioning "the $4 million to $10 million range" in Paragraph 3, the author is talking about ______.
A. gold market B. real estate
C. stock exchange D. venture investment

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] 第三段第二句提到“大部分地区房价保持稳定”，接着文章开始分别介绍曼哈顿和旧金山的情况，主要谈论的是房地产业。那么，其中引用的话语也应该是围绕这个主题展开的。John Teaidi的同位语是a Bay Area real-estate broker(一名港湾地区房地产经纪人)，因而正确答案为B项。A项是借用了文中的gold rush造成的干扰项。C项看似正确，但注意它和房地产业间的关系与文意不符。D项文中没有提及。

单选题 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.

单选题 To which of the following is the author likely to agree?
A. A new boom, on the horizon.
B. Tighten the belt, the single remedy.
C. Caution all right, panic not.
D. The more ventures, the more chances.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 这篇文章主要涉及美国经济，开篇以美国经济滑坡的事例引出讨论题目。紧接着第二段谈到，格林斯潘承认美国经济开始降温之前，人们就感觉到了经济在滑坡。在该段的后半部分，作者谈到消费者仅是中度关注而没有恐慌。第三段延续第二段后半部分，讨论消费者没有处于绝望境地。最后一段说他们在经济滑坡中还得到很多实惠。综合全文，C项最能反映出作者的态度。 A、B两项的态度分别过于乐观和悲观。D项不符文意。