单选题 In times of severe ______ companies are often forced to make massive job cuts in order to survive.
A. retreat B. retrospect C. reduction D. recession

【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 句子的大意为：在经济严重衰退时，公司为了生存经常被迫大批裁员。A项retreat“撤退，退避”；B项retrospect“回顾，追溯，回想”；C项reduction“减少，下降，缩小”；D项recession“衰退，不景气，后退，凹处”。所以D项符合题意。