单选题 As the U.S. government budget crisis enters the second week, there are concerns that the rivalry between Democrats and Republicans in Congress may bring the United States to default, which would cause domestic and global economic woes. The world is observing developments in the U. S. capital with bewilderment, as well as concerns.
Republicans may allow default. The top Republican leader has signaled that he may allow the United States to default for the first time in history if President Barack Obama refuses a compromise on federal spending. The United States must increase its debt ceiling by October 17 to be able to pay for government debt already accrued.
The president, a Democrat, said he is open to negotiation with the Republicans on any issue, but not amid such threats. "We"re not going to negotiate under the threat of further harm to our economy and middle class families. We"re not going to negotiate under the threat of a prolonged shutdown until Republicans get 100 percent of what they want," Obama said, "We"re not going to negotiate under the threat of economic catastrophe that economists and CEOs increasingly warn would result if Congress choose to default on America"s obligations."
Devastating consequences: one analyst warned that a prolonged shutdown could have harmful effects on the U.S. economy. But he said the U.S. defaulting on its debt would be worse. Klaus Larres, a professor at the University of North Carolina, said the consequences would be disastrous for the world still recovering from a major financial crisis. What"s worse, debt ceiling problem should not be mixed up with the shutdown of the government. It could, in turn, undermine the U.S. Dollar"s position as the global reserve currency and even the U.S. role as the world"s strongest economy.
International effects: other economies also could be affected. China is concerned about more than ＄1 trillion it has invested in the United States and is urging the United States to raise its debt ceiling. Larres said much of the world has difficulty understanding this U. S. crisis, especially countries with authoritarian governments, such as China and some other East Asian states.
Larres said the effects of the U. S. government shutdown are still mild, and that with a timely solution, the situation could be quickly rectified. But he added a prolonged impasse and a deeper crisis could have a negative effect that could undermine the position of the United States as the world"s top political and economic leader.

单选题 U.S. defaulting on its debt would produce the following consequences EXCEPT ______.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[解析] 推理题。由第一段第一句“...which would cause domestic and global economic woes.”可知：政府的债务危机会带来国内和国际的经济危机，这与C项的内容相符。由第一段第一句“...the rivalry between Democrats and Republicans in Congress may bring the United States to default...”可知：民主党和共和党就债务上限发生争执，这与D项的内容相符。由第三段第三句“We"re not going to negotiate under the threat of a prolonged shutdown until Republicans get 100 percent of what they want...”可知：债务问题可能会导致政府的关门，这与B项的内容相符。所以本题正确答案是A。

单选题 Which of the following doesn"t belong to consequences of the shutdown of U.S. government?

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。由第一段第一句“...which would cause domestic and global economic woes.”可知：政府的债务危机会给国内带来经济危机，影响世界经济的复苏，这与A项、B项的内容分别相符。由第四段第五句“It could, in turn, undermine the U.S. Dollar"s position as the global reserve currency...”可知：美国政府的关门会破坏美元作为世界储备货币的地位，这与D项的内容相符。所以本题正确答案是C。