单选题 The United States central bank is prepared to take further actions to support the economy if conditions get a lot worse. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave that message in a speech in which he discussed possible steps. These include buying more securities in an effort to push down longer-term interest rates and increase economic growth.
Mr. Bernanke says it is "reasonable" to expect some increase in economic growth starting next year. Stocks ended the day higher after his speech. It followed a number of reports this week that added to concerns about the slow speed of recovery from the recession.
The latest report said the economy was not as bad as many economists had predicted. Many economists say the country needs a growth rate of at least two and a half percent just to keep unemployment from rising. The slowing in GDP largely resulted from a sharp increase in imports. Imports of goods and services increased almost three times as fast in the second quarter as in the first three months of the year. Exports slowed.
Not all the reports were bad. The Labor Department said the number of first-time claims for unemployment aid fell for the first time. But more Americans are having trouble making monthly payments on their home loans. Housing helped lead economic recoveries in the past. But this time the housing market not only helped create the recession. Many economists say it is also limiting the recovery. The Commerce Department reported that sales of newly built houses fell to the lowest level since records began in nineteen sixty-three. The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of single-family homes were at their lowest level since records began fifteen years ago.
Jed Smith directs research for the association. He says the big drop in sales was largely because of the end of a federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers. According to Jed Smith, "Unemployment is fairly high and people are seared. And when people are scared, or are recovering from being scared, they don"t necessarily run out and buy a house right away."

单选题 Ben Bernanke gave the message in his speech that ______.

单选题 What does the word "reasonable" in the Second Paragraph most probably mean?

单选题 Which of the following is NOT included in the comment of many economists on American economy?

单选题 The negative influence of present housing market on American economy is that ______.

单选题 According to Jed Smith, house sales drop sharply mainly because ______.