湖北大学真题湖北大学真题 2007 年年 (总分 100, 考试时间 90 分钟)Part Reading ComprehensionDirections: There are 4 reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D. You should decide on the best choice and mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET by blackening the corresponding letter in the brackets.The domestic economy in the United States expanded in a remarkably vigorous and steady fashion. The revival in consumer confidence was reflected in the higher proportion of incomes spent for goods and services and the marked increase in consumer willingness to take on installment debt. A parallel strengthening in business psychology was manifested in a stepped-up rate of plant and equipment spending and a gradual pickup in expenses for inventory. Confidence in the economy was also reflected in the strength of the stock market and in the stability of the bond market. For the years as a whole, consumer and business sentiment benefited from the ease in East-West tensions.The bases of the business expansion were to be found mainly in the stimulative monetary and fiscal policies that had been pursued. Moreover, the restoration of sounder liquidity positions and tighter management control of production efficiency had also helped lay the groundwork for a strong expansion. In addition, the economic policy moves made by the President had served to renew optimism on the business outlook while boosting hopes that inflation would be brought under more effective control. Finaly, of course, the economy was able to grow as vigorously as it did because sufficient leeway existed in terms of idle men and machines.The United States balance of payments deficit declined sharply. Nevertheless, by any other test, the deficit remained very large, and there was actually a substantial deterioration in our trade account to a sizable deficit, almost two-thirds of which was with Japan. While the overall trade performance proved disappointing, there are still good reasons for expecting the delayed impact of devaluation to produce in time a significant strengthening in our trade picture. Given the size of the Japanese component of our trade deficit, however, the outcome will depend importantly on the extent of the corrective measures undertaken by Japan. Also important will be our own efforts in the United States to fashion internal policies consistent with an improvement in our external balance.The underlying task of public policy for the year ahead-and indeed for the longer run-remained a familiar one: to strike the right balance between encouraging healthy economic growth and avoiding inflationary pressures. With the economy showing sustained and vigorous growth, and with the currency crisis highlighting the need to improve our competitive posture internationally, the emphasis seemed to be shifting to the problem of inflation. The Phase Three Program of wage and price restraint can contribute to reducing inflation. Unless productivity growth is unexpectedly large; however, the expansion of real output must eventually begin to slow down to the economys larger run growth potential if generalized demand pressures on prices are to be avoided. 1. The author mentions increased installment debt in the first paragraph in order to show _. A the continuing expansion of the economy B the growth of consumer purchasing power C the consumers confidence in the economy D the soaring consumer incomes for spending2. Paragraph 2 mainly deals with _. A economic policy measures suggested by the President B the causes of business development for the period C the stimulative monetary and fiscal policesD the revival of stronger liquidity positions3. It can be inferred from the third paragraph that the authors attitude toward the reduction of the international payments deficit seems _. A bitter-sweet B pessimistic C sympathetic D doubtful4. Part of the public policy task, as outlined in the text, is to _. A prevent payments deficit B devalue the American dollar C avoid inflationary pressures D increase the balance of trade5. It can be learned from the last paragraph that the Phase Three Program contained _. A devaluation of the dollar B productivity measures C reduced government spending D wage and price controlsEducation is one of the key words of our time. A man, without an education, many of us believe, is an unfortunate victim of adverse circumstances deprived of one of the greatest twentieth-century opportunities. Convinced of the importance of education, modern states “invest“ in institutions of learning to get back “interest“ in the form of a large group of enlightened young men and women who are potential leaders. Education, with its cycles of instruction so carefully worked out, is punctuated by textbooks-those purchasable wells of wisdom-what would civilization be like without its benefits?So much is certa