阅读理解 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.

单选题 21.The underlined word "seers"(Para 1, Line 3)most probably means______.

单选题 22.Usually predictors in America think that after economic crisis, ______.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】题干中predictors in America相当于第一段第一句的American forecasters；usually相当于almost every year；after economic crisis相当于since the end of the financial crisis。故可以确定该题对应首段首句。该句为：Almost every year since the end of the financial crisis has startedwith rosy expectations among American forecasters，and this one is no different．(几乎每次经济危机之后的第一年，美国预测家便开始乐观的预期，这一次也是如此。)其中最有困扰性的是rosy一词，其意思为“玫瑰般的，美好的，乐观的”，因此可以判断选项[A]为答案。其中hopeful=rosy；prospects=expectations。其余各项均与首段首句的关键词rosy expectations无关。

单选题 23.The biggest threat of this economic crisis is that______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】根据题干the biggest threat of this economic crisis我们可以定位到第二段末句：Thebiggest danger this time round is the optimism itself．其中，the biggest threat=the biggest danger。故答案就是原文中提到的“optimism itself乐观本身”。四个选项中只有[D]提到optimistic一词，故为答案。选项[A]具有一定干扰性。第二段第一句提到：almost every year since the fi—nancial crisis upbeat expectations have been disappointed．(几乎每一次经济危机之后，乐观的预期结果总是令人失望。)原文说的是“预期令人失望”，而不是选项[A]说的“经济危机令人失望”，该项是很明显的“偷换概念”。

单选题 24.According to Paragraph 3, which one is NOT true?

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】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。

单选题 25.All the factors can facilitate America's growth EXCEPT that______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】题干All these factors can facilitate America’s growth(所有这些因素可促进美国经济增长)相当于第四段最后一句all these factors could boost America’s growth。其中facilitate相当于boost。而该段的these factors肯定指代上文提到的内容，故答案应该从这一句的前面找。而在该段可以明显地看到first，second，finally等词，故可以判断出现了三个因素。原文的First，house-hold and corporate balance—sheets are in good shape与选项[B]balance sheets of families and firmsare in good condition相对应。其中house—hold and corporate balance—sheets相当于balance sheetsof families and firms；in good shape相当于in good condition。原文Second，thanks to cheap energy，years of wage restraint and a relatively weak dollar，America is competitive对应选项[C]Americahas inexpensive energy supply and competitive currency。其中cheap energy相当于inexpensive en—ergy supply；relatively weak dollar，…competitive相当于competitive currency(有竞争力的货币)。原文Finally，the fiscal squeeze is abating相当于选项[A]America has reduced its financialrestraint；其中，fiscal squeeze(财政压缩)=financial restraint(财务限制)，abating(减少)=reduced(减少)。故未提及的是[D]，即[D]为答案。该项中只有一个词是与原文不符的，即cutcosts减少开支，这与下文提到的cut the fiscal squeeze减少财政压缩(即增加财政支出)明显是相反的，故确定选项[D]为答案。