【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[听力原文] The European Central Bank released a new round of measures to stimulate the economy, including lowering interest rates more. The financial moves announced Thursday are the latest efforts to lift the economy of the 19 countries that use the euro. The European Central Bank, or ECB, cut all three of its main interest rates. The bank also increased its monthly financial asset-buying program. Officials at the ECB hope banks will lend more money to businesses and consumers to help the region's economy. The Eurozone economy has had low economic growth for many years. Growth was 0.3 percent in the last three months of last year. The ECB's cuts to three main interest rates it controls took effect on March 16. The rate for deposits with the central bank was cut further to negative 0.4 percent. The negative interest rate means that depositors pay the bank instead of receiving interest payments. The unusual measure is meant to encourage banks to lend money rather than keep it with the central bank. The ECB also said it would increase the purchase of bonds from 60 billion euros each month to 80 billion euros. The move puts more money into financial institutions that hold the bonds, putting more money into the Eurozone economy. The measures are similar to tactics that the U.S. central bank used to boost the American economy daring the last world financial crisis. Since then, the U.S. economy has recovered. The unemployment rate now stands at 4.9 percent. However, central bank policymakers are dissatisfied with economic growth. Many workers are still looking for better-paying, fun-time jobs rather than the part-time work they accepted. Japan, the world's third-largest economy, behind the U.S. and China, has been dealing with deflation for many years. Some expels hope the bank will place fees on savings and force companies to sharply increase wages. In the Eurozone, the jobless rate is down from its peak of 12.1 percent, but was still at 10.3 percent this January. European Central Bank president Mario Draghi said, 'The bank's new measures show that we can still take actions. Rates will stay low, very low, for a long period of time and well past the horizon of our purchases of assets.' But he added, 'Taking into account the support of our measures to growth and inflation, we don't anticipate that it will be necessary to reduce rates further.' What action did the ECB take recently? ①选项都是以动词过去式开头的动宾短语，题目可能与过去已发生的事情或行动有关。②题目问最近欧洲央行采取了什么行动。录音开头提到欧洲央行采取了一轮新的刺激经济增长的措施，其中包括降低利率，B复现了该处录音的关键词，为正确答案。 A“借给政府更多钱”，录音说的是欧洲央行会借更多钱给公司和客户，而非政府，故排除A。虽然欧洲央行降低利率，以促进银行把更多的钱贷出去，但并未提到要给私人企业更好的贷款优惠，故排除C。D“减少资产购买项目”与录音内容相反，录音说欧洲央行是增加资产购买项目，并非减少。
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[听力原文] Why did the ECB cut its deposit rate to negative 0.4 percent? ①从选项中的bank、money、economy、inflation rate等词来看，本题可能与经济及银行有关。②题目问为何欧洲央行把存款利率降低到负0.4%，录音中明确提到采取这一非常措施的目的是希望银行把更多的钱借贷出去，让更多的钱流入欧元区经济，故B正确。 欧洲央行是想让银行借贷出更多钱，而不是留存更多钱，A刚好与欧洲央行的初衷相反，故排除。利率降至负值，意味着存款方要付利息，这会让更多存款帐户从银行取出积蓄，从而有更多的钱流入市场，C与此相反，故排除。欧洲央行采取措施要应对的是经济增长迟缓的困境，而不是通货膨胀，故D错误。