单选题 Excerpt 1:
The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in the final quarter of 2011—more than an interim (临时的) estimate of—0.2%.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the worse than previously forecast data was driven by a weak services sector. Transport, communication, business services and the financial sectors all contributed to the figure being revised downwards from the original estimate made in January.
Excerpt 2:
The UK has fallen back into recession as the economy shrank by 0.2% between January and March in 2012. A sharp fall in construction output was behind the surprise contraction, the Office for National Statistics said.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, said the figures were "disappointing" and blamed both the European crisis and Britain"s spending in the "good years".
Excerpt 3:
The outlook for the UK jobs market is "bleak" after the number of both permanent and temporary placements fell in recent weeks, according to a survey. The number of permanent jobs filled in June fell for the first time in six months. This could lead to a period of rising unemployment, Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) said.
Excerpt 4:
The UK recession has deepened, latest official figures have shown, after the output of the economy fell by 0.7% between April and June. The contraction was much bigger than expected and follows a 0.3% drop in the first three months of the year.
The Office for National Statistics said the fall was largely due to a sharp slowdown in the construction sector.
Excerpt 5:
The UK economy is still in recession after shrinking by 0.7% in the three months from April to June in 2012. This is a much bigger fall than expected and follows a 0.3% drop in the first three months of the year. This latest figure is an estimate and could be revised up or down. The sharp slowdown in construction continued, with output in the building sector falling 5.2% in the second quarter of the year.
Excerpt 6:
The number of people being placed in jobs in the UK fell for the second straight month in July, although the pace of decline slowed, a study showed. The survey by Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG said there was a "high degree of uncertainty" among employers. It added that firms were taking longer to decide on hiring, slowing down recruitment.
Excerpt 7:
The UK"s labour market deserves a gold medal for its incredible performance in the face of adversity so far this year.
In the last few months, it has defied gravity as unemployment has fallen and jobs grew even while the economy slipped back into recession. But this run might be coming to an end as this month"s data shows that permanent appointments have fallen for a second month and temporary employment has seen an eighth consecutive month of contraction.
单选题 All the Excerpts are discussing ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[考点] 主题大意
此题考查的是考生根据文章各部分内容概括总结主题大意的能力。摘要1提出,2011年四季度英国经济下降0.3%。摘要2提出,2012年1—3月,英国经济下降0.2%,重新陷入萧条。摘要4提出,2012年英国经济萧条进一步加剧。摘要5提出,2012年二季度,英国经济下降0.7%。摘要6虽然没有直接提及经济萧条,但根据英国经济衰退可判断,就业人数下降是经济萧条的结果。摘要7提出,英国劳工市场在经济处于困难的情况下却成绩斐然。因此可以判断,这七篇摘要谈论的中心问题是英国经济萧条。所以,本题正确答案是D。
干扰项A:英国经济发展;干扰项B:英国就业市场前景;干扰项C:英国就业上的不确定性。选项A和选项B的内容原文都没有提及。选项C内容是原文提到的与经济有关的一个方面的事实,但不能概括所有摘要的主题。
单选题 According to the excerpts, what should be responsible for the UK"s economic recession?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[考点] 细节判断
此题考查的是考生根据文章内容进行细节判断的能力。问题问:英国经济萧条的原因是什么?摘要2提出,经济数据令人失望,欧洲危机及英国在经济繁荣时没有节制是主要原因。摘要4提出,英国经济下降0.7%,经济萧条进一步加剧,这要归因于建筑业发展速度急剧放缓。摘要5指出,2012年二季度,英国经济依然处于萧条之中,建筑业发展速度继续迅速放缓,建筑业产值下降5.2%。由此可以判断,英国经济出现萧条,除受欧洲危机的影响之外,其建筑业发展速度继续迅速放缓导致产值下降也是主要原因。所以本题正确答案是A:欧洲危机以及建筑业发展放缓。
干扰项B:终身职位和临时性职位的减少;干扰项C:雇主中存在的高度不确定性;干扰项D:连续8个月的失业率上升。这三个选项的内容都是英国经济萧条所导致的结果,不是造成经济萧条的原因。
单选题 The word "bleak" in Excerpt 3 most probably means ______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[考点] 词语含义
此题考查的是考生根据上下文内容推断词语含义的能力。问题问:摘要3中“bleak”一词的含义是什么?这七篇摘要主要谈论了英国经济下滑以及由此带来的就业问题。摘要3提出,最近几周长期性工作和临时性工作职位减少,这有可能导致失业率上升。因此可以推断出,英国就业市场前景暗淡。所以本题的正确答案是C。
干扰项A:令人害怕的;干扰项B:令人不悦的;干扰项D:寒冷的。
单选题 What does "adversity" in Excerpt 7 refer to?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[考点] 引申推断
此题考查的是考生根据文章内容进行引申推断的能力。问题问:摘要7中的“adversity”指的是什么?前六篇摘要分别谈论了英国经济出现下滑导致经济萧条、经济下滑的原因以及可能产生的后果等。摘要7指出,面对这样的______,英国劳工市场依然成绩斐然。过去几个月,在经济走向萧条的情况下,英国劳工市场却出现了失业率降低、就业机会增加的情况。由此可以推断,英国劳工市场所面对的大环境依然是经济萧条。所以本题正确答案是D。
干扰项A:英国失业率的上升;干扰项B:英国建筑业发展速度减缓。这两个选项的内容都是经济萧条产生的结果,不是劳工市场面对的困难。干扰项C:英国人口下降。这一内容原文没有提及。