2021年安徽省池州市公共英語五級(筆試)真題(含答案)

2021年安徽省池州市公共英語五級(筆試)真題(含答案)學校:________班級:________姓名:________考號:________

一、1.ListeningComprehension(15題)1.Whydoesthespeakersuggestwerisewithayawnandstretch?

A.Becauseitwillhelpkeepyourenergyfortheday'swork.

B.Becauseitwillhelpyoutocontrolyourtemperearlyintheday.

C.Becauseitwillhelpyoutoconcentrateonyourroutinework.

D.Becauseitwillkeepyourenergycycleundercontrolallday.

2.Thespeakerwillintroducesixdepartmentalmanagersonebyone.

A.TrueB.Fasle

3.What/Whoshouldstudentscontactiftheywanttogetasummerjob?

A.TheStucentUnion.

B.TheStudentEmploymentOffice.

C.TheWorkers'Union.

D.TheStudentPart-timeJobOffice.

4.PartB

Directions:Youwillhear3conversationsortalksandyoumustanswerthequestionsbychoosingA,B,CorD.YouwillheartherecordingONLYONCE.

聽力原文：M:Ireallydon'tknowwhattodothissummer.Ican'taffordtojustsitaround,andtheredon'tseemtobeanyjobsavailable.

W:Whydon'tyoutryhouse-sitting?LastsummermyfriendSallyhouse-satfortheGammonswhentheywentawayonvacation.Mrs.GammonhiredSallytostayintheirhousebecauseshedidn'twantitleftempty.

M:YoumeantheGammonspaidSallyjusttoliveintheirhouse?

W:Itwasn'teasy.Shehadtomowthelawnandwaterthehouseplants.AndwhenJodihouse-satforMr.Johnson,hehadtotakecareofhispets.

M:House-sittingsoundslikeagoodjob.Iguessit'salittlelikebaby-sitting—exceptyou'retakingcareofahouseinsteadofchildren.

W:Thestudentemploymentofficestillhasafewjobsposted.

M:DoIjusthavetofilloutanapplication?

W:SallyandJodihadtointerviewwiththehomeownersandprovidedthreereferenceseach.

M:Thatseemslikealotoftroubleforasummerjob.

W:Well,thehomeownerswantsomeguaranteesothattheycantrustthehouse-sitter.Youknow,theywanttomakesureyou'renotthetypewho'11throwwildpartiesintheirhouse,ormoveagroupoffriendsinwithyou.

M:House-sitterswhodothatsortofthingprobablyaren'tpaidthen.

W:Usuallythey'repaidanywayjustbecausethehomeownersdon'twanttomakeafuss.Butifthehomeownerreportedit,thenthehouse-sitterwouldn'tbeabletogetanotherjob.Soifthehomeownerreportedit,thenthehouse-sitterwouldn'tbeabletogetanotherjob.Sowhydon'tyouapply?

M:Yeah,IthinkIwill.

Whichjobdocsthewomansuggesttotheman?

A.Baby-sitting.

B.House-cleaning.

C.House-sitting.

D.Mowingthelawn.

5.WhatwerethetwothingsthatinterestedDr.Huber?

6.WhatistheeffectoftheWomen'sMovement?

7.WhogavedairyproductstothenativeAmericans?

8.PartB

Directions:Youwillhear3conversationsortalksandyoumustanswerthequestionsbychoosingA,B,CorD.YouwillheartherecordingONLYONCE.

聽力原文：M:Now,I'dliketosaythatIthinkthatthisgovernmentproposingtobuildmorenuclearpowerstationsinthiscountryisreallybeingstupid.Thepointaboutnuclearpoweristhatwehaven'tlearnttodoawaywiththewaste.Wehaven'tlearnttocopewiththewastefromityet.

W:Well,Isometimesthinkthat,youknow,they'vegotanimpossiblejob.ImeanalltheimpressionIgetisthatthereisnoalternative...well,that'stheimpressionIget.

M:No,no,noI...Idon'tagreewiththatatall.Thereareplentyofalternatives.There'sthesun...solarpower...thatisasourcethatisalwaysthere,wealwayshaveit.

W:Idon't...Idon'tquiteseewhatyou'regettingatactually,solarpower,what'sthat?

M:Well,theheatfromthesun,itcanbeusedinsolarpanelsonthetopsofhousesforheating,storinguppowertoheatwaterandtoheatthehouses,youknow,somesolarpanelsareinoperationalreadyandtheyaresavingmoney...

W:That'sagoodpointactually,butisitreallyviable,that,ImeanbecauseI'd...

M:SorryitmustbejAndtheonegreatadvantageisthatIcansee,ifthegovernmentsetupsmallunitstobuildsolarpanelsandtoinstallthem,itwouldbecreatingemploymentwhichwouldimprovetheunemploymentsituationandbringterrificadvantages.

W:IhaveheardthatinEngland,Imean,there'snotenoughsun,isthere?For,Imean,solarpanelshere?

M:Yes,well,that'snotquitetrue.I...thereisquiteabitofsun...youmaynotfeeltheactualheatofitonsomeoccasions.

W:No,youarerightthere!

M:Butthelightpowerfromthesunwill.

Whatdoesthemanthinkofthegovernment'spresentproposalaboutbuildingmorepowerstationsinthecountry?

A.It'sadangerousproposal.

B.It'sastupidproposal.

C.It'sanadvantageousproposal.

D.It'saviableproposal.

9.Peoplelikethechangesintheorganizationofthecompany.

A.TrueB.Fasle

10.聽力原文：Normallyastudentmustparticipateinacertainnumberofcoursesinordertograduate,andeachcoursewhichheattendsgiveshimacreditwhichhemaycounttowardsadegree.InmanyAmericanuniversitiesthetotalworkforadegreeismadeupofthirty-sixcourseseachlastingforonesemester.Atypicalcourseconsistsofthreeclassesperweekforfifteenweeks;whileattendingauniversityastudentwillprobablyattendfourorfivecoursesduringeachsemester.Normallyastudentwouldexpecttotakefouryearsattendingtwosemesterseachyear.Itispossibletospreadtheperiodofworkforthedegreeoveralongerperiod.Itisalsopossibleforastudenttomovebetweenoneuniversityandanotherduringhisdegreecourse,thoughthisisnotinfactdoneasaregularpractice.

Foreverycoursethathefollowsastudentisgivenagrade,whichisrecorded,andtherecordisavailableforthestudenttoshowtoprospectiveemployers.Allthisimposesaconstantpressureandstrainofwork,butinspiteofthissomestudentsstillfindtimeforgreatactivityinstudentaffairs.Electionstopositionsinstudentorganizationsarousemuchenthusiasm.Theeffectiveworkofmaintainingdisciplineisusuallyperformedbystudentswhoadvisetheacademicauthorities.Anystudentwhoisthoughttohavebrokentherules,forexample,bycheatinghastoappearbeforeastudentcourt.Withtheenormousnumbersofstudents,theoperationofthesystemdoesincludeacertainamountofactivity.Astudentwhohasheldoneofthesepositionsofauthorityismuchrespectedanditwillbeofbenefittohimlaterinhiscareer.

What'sthemainobjectiveofastudentwhoattendsacertainnumberofcourses?

A.Tograduateandobtainadegree.

B.Tolearnsomethingheisinterestedin.

C.Toavoidworking.

D.Toobeyhisparents'order.

11.HowmanypeopledependonlocalriceandfoodinSouthAsiacurrently?

A.Morethan150millionpeople.

B.Lessthan150millionpeople.

C.About100millionpeople.

D.About120millionpeople.

12.Howcanthemosteffectivecomplaintbemade?

A.Showingthefaultitemtothemanager.

B.Explainingexactlywhatiswrongwiththeitem.

C.Sayingfirmlythattheitemisofpoorquality.

D.Askingpolitelytochangetheitem.

13.MDdecidescompany'spoliciesandcarriesthemout．

A.RightB.Wrong

14.Whatlessoncouldbedrawnfromtheaccident?

A.Accuratecommunicationisofutmostimportance.

B.Pilotsshouldbeabletospeakseveralforeignlanguages.

C.Aircontrollersshouldkeepaclosewatchontheweather.

D.Cooperationbetweenpilotsandaircontrollersisessential.

15.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

聽力原文：Asyouknow,manybigchangeshappenedafterChristopherColumbusandotherEuropeanscametotheAmericas500yearsago.TodayI'mgoingtotalkaboutachangeintheworlddietthewaypeoplecookedandate.Fivehundredyearsago,therewasabigchangeinthedietofpeopleallovertheworld.

Let'stalkaboutthedietinEurope500yearsago.Oneimportantfoodwasmeat.Europeansatemanykindsofmeat,includingbeef,lamb,goat,andpork.Europeansalsoatedairyproducts,milkandcheesemadefromthemilkofcowsandgoats.TheEuropeansateseveraldifferentgrains:Mostpeopleatewheat,andsomepeopleaterice,whichcamefirstfromAsia.

Now,let'slookatthedietintheAmericasabout500yearsago.ThedietofthenativeAmericanwasquitedifferentfromthedietoftheEuropeans.ThisisbecausetheEuropeanmeats,dairyproducts,andgrainsdidn'texistintheAmericas.However,thenativeAmericansatesomefoodthatdidn'texistinEurope.ThenativeAmericansatedifferentvegetables,suchaspotatoesandtomatoes.Theyatedifferentgrains,suchascorn.Theyatedifferentmeat,suchasturkeyandotherwildbirds.Theyalsousedspicessuchaschocolateandhotchilipeppers.NoneofthesefoodsexistedinEurope500yearsago.

Nowlet'stalkaboutthebigchangeintheworlddiet500yearsago,afterColumbusandtheEuropeanswenttotheAmericas.

AfterEuropeanswenttotheAmericas,thedietofthenativeAmericanschangedalot.WhentheEuropeanswenttotheAmericas,theytookmanynewkindsoffoodwiththem.TheEuropeansgavesomeofthefood,themeat,dairyproducts,andgrainstothenativeAmericansandthenthenativeAmericansstartedtousetheEuropeanfoodintheircooking.Asaresult,thedietintheAmerica'stodayisverydifferentfromtheirdiet500yearsago.Forexample,ifyougotoacountrylikeMexico,youcanseethatthetraditionalMexicanfoodusesalotofbeef,pork,cheese,wheat,andrice,allfoodsthatcamefromEuropewithColumbus.

AftertheEuropeansreturnedtoEuropefromtheAmericas,therewasalsoabigchangeinthedietofpeopleinEuropeandtherestoftheworld.WhentheEuropeansreturnedtoEurope,theytookmanynewkindsoffoodbackfromtheAmericas.Theytookbackthevegetables,grains,andspicesthattheyfoundintheAmericas.Littlebylittle,peoplealloverEuropestartedusingthenewfoodsintheircooking,andthenthefoodsspreadaroundtheworldtoAfrica,theMiddleEastandAsia.

Someofthenewfoodspreadveryquicklyaroundtheworld.Oneexampleisthechilipepper.Youmaybesurprisedtoknowthat500yearsago,thechilipepperdidn'texistinmanycountriesthatarefamoustodayfortheirhotandspicyfoodmadewithchilies.Actually,wethinkthatthefirstchilipepperwastakentoSpainbyColumbusin1493,whenhereturnedfromtheAmericas.Afteronly100years,chilipeppershadspreadallaroundtheworld.Theygroweasilyinwarmweather.TheonlyplacethatthechilipepperdidnotbecomepopularwasNorthernEurope,probablybecauseitistoocoldtogrowchilipepperseasily.

Althoughchilipeppersspreadquickly,otherfoodsfromtheAmericasspreadveryslowly.Potatoesareagoodexample.Ittookabout250yearsforthepotatoestospreadaroundtheworld.ThereasonittooksolongisthatEuropeansthoughtthatpotatoeswerepoisonous.ThepotatolookedalotlikeaverypoisonousplantthatgrewinEurope.Peoplewereafraidtoeatpotatoes!Foralongtime,peopleonlyusedpotatoestof

二、2.UseofEnglish(10題)16.(36)

17.(46)

18.(43)

19.(37)

20.

【C17】

21.(45)

22.(35)

23.(34)

24.

【C5】

25.(33)

三、3.ReadingComprehension(15題)26.PartA

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextsandanswerthequestionswhichaccompanythembychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Aslongasherparentscanremember,13-year-oldKatieHarthasbeentalkingaboutgoingtocollege.Hermother,Tally,afinancial-aidofficerataCaliforniaUniversity,knowsalltoowellthedauntingthingofpayingforacollegeeducation.Lastyeartheaverageyearlytuitionataprivate,four-yearschoolclimbed5.5percenttomorethan$17,000.TheHartshavestartedsaving,andfiguretheycanaffordapublicuniversitywithoutaproblem.ButwhatifKatieappliestoPrinceton(she'sthreatening),whereoneyear'stuition,roomandboard—almost$34,000in2007—willcostmorethansomeluxurycars?EvenanumbercruncherlikeTallyadmitsit'salittlescary,especiallysinceshe'llretireandKatiewillgotocollegeataroundthesametime.

Payingforcollegehasalwaysbeenahardendeavor.Thegoodnews:lastyearstudentscollected$74billioninfinancialaid,themostever.Mostfamiliespaylessthanfullfreight.Sixtypercentofpublic-universitystudentsandthreequartersofthoseatprivatecollegesreceivesomeform.offinancialaid—mostly,thesedays,intheform.ofloans.Butthosenumbersarenotasencouragingastheyappearforlower-incomefamilies,becauseschoolsarechangingtheirformulasfordistributingaid.Eagertoboosttheirmagazinerankings,whicharebasedinpartonthetestscoresofenteringfreshmen,they'rethrowingmoreaidatsmarterkids—whethertheyneeditornot.

Thebestwaytoprepareistostartsavingearly.Anewlawpassedlastyearmakesthateasierforsomefamilies.So-called529plansallowparentstosockawayfundsinfederal-tax-free-investmentaccounts,aslongasthemoneyisusedfor"qualifiededucationexpenses"liketuition,roomandboard.Theplansaren'tforeveryone.Fortaxreasons,somelowerandmiddleincomefamiliesmaybebetteroffchoosingotherinvestments.Butsavingisvital.When'sthebesttimetostart?"Sometime,"saysJackJoyceoftheCollegeBoard,"betweenthematernitywardandmiddleschool."

Aidpackagesusuallycomeinsomecombinationofgrants,loansandjobs.Thesedays60percentofallaidcomesintheform.oflow-interestloans.Allstudentsareeligiblefor"unsubsidized"federalStaffordloans,whichletthemdeferinterestpaymentsuntilaftergraduation.StudentswhocandemonstrateneedcanalsoqualifyforfederalPerkinsloansor"subsidized"Staffords,wherethegovernmentpaystheinterestduringschool.Fortunately,thisisaborrower'smarket."Interestratesareattheirlowestlevelinthehistoryofstudentloans,"saysMarkKantrowitz,publisherofFinaid.Kantrowitzexpectsratestofallevenfurtherwhenthey'rereviewedthissummer.

Traditionalscholarships,academicorathletic,arestillapartofmanyfamilies'planning.MackReiter,a17-year-oldnationalwrestlingchampion,getssomanyrecruitinglettershethrowsmostaway.He'llalmostcertainlygetafreeride.Withoutit,"wewouldreallybeinabind,"sayshismother,Janet.Foreveryoneelse,it'sworththeefforttopickthroughlocalandnationalscholarshipofferings,whichcanbefoundonWebsiteslikecollege-board,com.

WhatdoestheauthorintendtoillustratewiththeexampleoftheHarts?

A.Thedifficultyofpayingthetuition.

B.Thefar-sightoftheparents.

C.ThepromisingfutureofKatie.

D.Theincreasingtuitionintheuniversity.

27.(68)

28.PartA

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextsandanswerthequestionswhichaccompanythembychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

TheStoneage,theIronage.Entireepochshavebeennamedformaterials.Sowhattonamethedecadesahead?Thechoicewillbetough.Welcometotheageofsuperstuff.Materialscience--oncetheleastsexytechnology—isburstingwithnew,practicaldiscoveriesledbysuperconductingceramicsthatmayrevolutionizeelectronics.Butsuperconductorsarejustpartofthepicture:fromhousesandcarstocookpotsandartificialteeth,theworldwillsometimebemadeofdifferentstuff.Exoticplastics,glassandceramicswillshapethefuturejustassurelyashavegeneticengineeringandcomputerscience.

Thekeytothenewmaterialsisresearchers'increasingabilitytomanipulatesubstancesatthemolecularlevel.Ceramics,forinstance,havelongbeenlimitedbytheirbrittleness.Butbyminimizingthemicroscopicimperfectionsthatcauseit,scientistsaremakingfarstrongerceramicsthatstillretainsuchqualifiesashardnessandheatresistance.FordMotorCo.nowusesceramictoolstocutsteel.AfirmcalledKyocerahascreatedalineofceramicscissorsandknivesthatstaysharpforyearsandneverrustorcorrode.

Asimilartransformationhasovertakenplastics.High-strengthpolymersnowform.bridges,iceskatingrinksandhelicopterrotors.Andonenewplasticthatgenerateselectricitywhenvibratedorpushedisusedinelectricguitars,touchsensorsforrobothandsandkaratejacketsthatautomaticallyrecordeachpunchandchop.Evenplasticlitter,whichoncethreatenedtopermanentlyblotthelandscape,hasprovedamenabletomoleculartinkering.Severalmanufacturersnowmakebiodegradableforms;someplasticsix-packringsforexample,graduallydecomposewhenexposedtosunlight.Researchersaredevelopingwaystomakeplasticsasrecyclableasmetalorglass.What'smore,composites—plasticreinforcedwithfibresofgraphiteorothercompounds--madetheround-the-worldflightofthevoyagerpossibleandhaveevenbeenprovedincombat:ahelmetsavedaninfantryman'slifebydeflectingtwobulletsintheGrenadainvasion.

Someadvancedmaterialsareoldstandardwithanewtwist.Thenewestfiberopticcablesthatcarrytelephonecallscross-countryaremadeofglasssotransparentthatapieceof100milesthickisclearerthanastandardwindowpane.

Butnewmaterialshavenoimpactuntiltheyaremadeintoproducts.Andthattransitioncouldprovedifficult,forswitchingrequireslengthyresearchandinvestment.Itcanbesaidafirmerhandleonhowtomovetocommercializationwilldeterminethesuccessorfailureofacountryinthecomingfuture.

Howmanynewmaterialsarementionedinthispassage?

A.Two.B.Three.C.Four.D.Five.

29.

Thefederalgovernmentgetsmostoftheirincomefrom______．

A.propertytaxB.incometaxC.salestaxD.estatetax

30.

Whichofthefollowingmightbetheresultfromtheuseofefficienttechnologyincorporations?

A.Thequantityofproductswillbeconsiderablyincreased.

B.Thecostofcomputerswillbedecreased.

C.Theperdocumentcostofinformationprocessingwillbereduced.

D.Thenewestinformationwillbeeasiertoobtain.

31.

Byreferringtotheartificialgrammar,theauthorintendstoshow______．

A.itssignificanceinthestudy

B.aninherentpatternbeinglearnt

C.itsresemblancetothelights

D.theimportanceofanight'ssleep

32.PartB

Directions:Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions66-70,choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA-Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Supermarketshoppershaveneverbeenmorespoiltforchoice.Butjustwhenwethoughttraditionalsystemsofselectivefarminghadcreatedthemosttemptingarrayoffoodsmoneycanbuy,wearenowbeingpresentedwiththeprospectofgeneticallycreatedstrainsofcabbages,onion,tomato,potatoandapple.

Itmaynotticklethefancyoffoodpuristsbutitfirestheimaginationofscientists.LastweektheydiscoveredthattheclassicParisianmushroomcontainsjustthepropertiesthat,whengeneticallymixedwithawildstrainofmushroomfromtheSonoradesertinCalifornia,couldhelpitgrowenmassewhileatthesametimeprovidingitwiththeresilienceofthewildstrain.

66.______

"Wehavefoundawayofincreasingthesuccessratefromoneto90percent."

Thisisjustoneofthemanyproductsthat,accordingtoskeptics,arecreatingagenerationof"Frankenfoods".Thefirstsuchfoodthatmaybeconsumedonawidescaleisatomatowhichhasbeengeneticallymanipulatedsothatitdoesnotsoftenasitripens.

67.______

Criticssaythatthenewtomato—whichcost$25milliontoresearch—isdesignedtostayonsupermarketshelvesforlonger.Ithasaten-daylifespan.

Notsurprisingly,every-hungryUSisleadingthesearchfortheseforbiddenfruit.Bychangingthegenesofagrapefruit,agrowerfromTexashascreatedasweet,red,thin-skinnedgrapefruitexpectedtosellatapremiumoveritsCaliforniaandFloridacompetitors.

Forchipfanaticswhowanttowatchtheirwaist-lines,newhigh-starch,low-moisturepotatoesthatabsorblessfatwhenfriedhavebeencreated,thankstoagenefromintestinalbacteria.

Thescientistsbehindsuchnewfoodarguethatgeneticengineeringissimplyanextensionofanimalandplantbreedingmethodsandthatbybroadeningthescopeofthegeneticchangesthatcanbemade,sourcesoffoodareincreased.Accordingly,theyargue,thisdoesnotinherentlyleadtofoodsthatarelesssafethanthosedevelopedbyconventionaltechniques.Butifdesirablegenesareswappedirrespectiveofspeciesbarriers,couldthingsspiraloutofcontrol?"Knowledgeisnottoxic,"saidMarkCantley,headofthebiotechnologyunitattheOrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment,"Ithasgivenusafargreaterunderstandingofhowlivingsystemsworkatamolecularlevelandthereisnoreasonforpeopletothinkthatscientistsandfarmersshouldusethatknowledgetodoriskythings."

Clearly,financialincentiveliesbehindthedevelopmentofthesebigger,moreproductivefoods.Butwemayhaveonlyourselvestoblame.Intheearlyperiodofmassfoodcommerce,foodvarietiesweredevelopedbytraditionalmethodsofselectivebreedingtosuitthelocalpalate.Butassuppliersstartedtoselectandpreserveplantvariantsthathadlargerfruit,consumerexpectationsrose,leadingtothedevelopmentofthedesirableclones.Still,traditionalistsandgourmetsinEuropearefightingtheirdevelopment.

68.______

Eveninthepre-packagedUS,wheretheslow-softeningtomatowillsoonbereachingsupermarkets,1,500AmericanchefshavelenttheirsupporttothePureFoodCampaignwhichcallsfortheinternationalboycottofgeneticallyengineeredfoodsuntilmoreisknownabouttheconsequencesofthetechnologyandreliablecontrolshavebeenintroduced.

Intheshortterm,muchofthetechnologyremainsuntestedandinthelongtermtheconsequencesforhumanbiologyareunknown.Questionshavearisenoverwhethernewproteinsingen

33.PartA

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextsandanswerthequestionswhichaccompanythembychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Whenitcomestotheslowingeconomy,EllenSperoisn'tbitinghernailsjustyet.Butthe47-year-oldmanicuristisn'tcutting,fillingorpolishingasmanynailsasshe'dliketo,either.Mostofherclientsspend$12to$50weekly,butlastmonthtwolongtimecustomerssuddenlystoppedshowingup.Speroblamesthesofteningeconomy.…Imagoodeconomicindicator,”shesays,“Iprovideaservicethatpeoplecandowithoutwhenthey'reconcernedaboutsavingsomedollars.”SoSperoisdownscaling,shoppingatmiddle-browDillard'sdepartmentstorenearhersuburbanClevelandhome,insteadofNeimanMarcus.“Idon'tknowifotherclientsaregoingtoabandonme,too.”shesays.

EvenbeforeAlanGreenspan'sadmissionthatAmerica'sred-hoteconomyiscooling,lotsofworkingfolkshadalreadyseensignsoftheslowdownthemselves.Fromcardealershipstogapoutlets,saleshavebeenlaggingformonthsasshopperstempertheirspending.Forretailers,wholastyeartookin24percentoftheirrevenuebetweenThanksgivingandChristmas,thecautiousapproachiscomingatacrucialtime.Already,expertssay,holidaysalesareoff7percentfromlastyear'space.Butdon'tsoundanyalarmsjustyet.Consumersseemonlyconcerned,notpanicked,andmanysaytheyremainoptimisticabouttheeconomy'slong-termprospects,evenastheydosomemodestbelt-tightening.

Consumerssaythey'renotindespairbecause,despitethedreadfulheadlines,theirownfortunesstillfeelprettygood.InManhattan,“there'sanewgoldrushhappeninginthe$4millionto$10millionrange,predominantlyfedbyWallStreetbonuses,”saysbrokerBarbaraCorcoran.InSanFrancisco,pricesarestillrisingevenasfrenziedoverbiddingquiets.“Insteadof20to30offers,nowmaybeyouonlygettwoorthree,”saysJohnDeadly,aBayAreareal-estatebroker.Andmostfolksstillfeelprettycomfortableabouttheirabilitytofindandkeepajob.

Manyfolksseesilverliningstothisslowdown.Potentialhomebuyerswouldcheerforlowerinterestrates.Employerswouldn'tmindalittlefewerbubblesinthejobmarket.Manyconsumersseemtohavebeeninfluencedbystock-marketswings,whichinvestorsnowviewasanecessaryingredienttoasustainedboom.Dinersmightseeanupside,too.GettingatableatManhattan'shotnewAlainDucasserestaurantneedtobeimpossible.Notanymore.Forthat,Greenspan&Co.maystillbeworthtoasting.

By“EllenSperoisn'tbitinghernailsjustyet”(Line1,Paragraph1),theauthormeans______.

A.Sperocanhardlymaintainherbusiness

B.Speroistoomuchengagedinherwork

C.Sperohasgrownoutofherbadhabit

D.Speroisnotinadesperatesituation

34.

Intheeyesoftheauthor,theFinancialServiceModernizationAct______.

A.servesnomorethanasanewpatchonanoldrobe

B.indicatestheCongress'admirablemovetoprotectprivacy

C.invadesonlineconsumerprivacyratherthanprotectit

D.isdeficientinthatitleavesmanysectorsunshielded

35.PartB

Directions:Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions66-70,choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA-Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Itwasamomentmostbusinessexecutiveswouldpausetosavor:latelastyear,GermansportinggoodspioneerAdidaslearnedthatafteryearsofdecliningmarketshare,thecompanyhadsprintedpastU.S.ReebokInternationaltotakethesecondplacebehindNikeintheraceforworldwidesales.ButRobertLouis-Dreyfus,therumpledFrenchmanwhonowrunsAdidas,anddidn'tevenstopforoneofhistrademarkHavanacigarsincelebration,worriedthatthecompanywouldgrowcomplacent.Instead,heandagroupoffriendsboughtFrenchsoccerclubOlympicdeMarseille"Nowthat'ssomethingIhavedreamedaboutsinceIwasakid."Louis-Dreyfussayswithanadolescentgrin.

66.______

Withsalesinthefirstthreequartersof1996at$2.5billion,upablithering30.7%over1995,it'shardtorecallthedismalshapeAdidaswasinwhenLouis-DreyfustookoveraschairmaninApril1993.Foundedin1920byAdiDassler,theinventorofthefirstshoesdesignedespeciallyforsports,thecompanyenjoyedanearmonopolyinathleticshoesuntilanups