C

　　　We regularly hear how important consumer spending is for the economy.The story goes like this:the more consumers spend,the more money circulates in the economy, which contributes to healthy job growth and profits.Keynes, a British economist,went as far as to say that individuals saving their money may actually be hurting the economy.Sounds troubling, doesn’t it?

　　　Fear not.You aren’t actually hutting anyone else by saving money.Strong economic growth only comes from one place:savings.Not consumption.In fact,economic activity should not be mistaken for economic growth.For example,somebody takes their money, walks into a store,and purchases goods.The store increases its revenue.

　　　But what happens to all of those goods and services that people have chosen not to consume by saving their money?Simple:Other people are allowed to consume them.Think of it this way:When you lend out your savings, you are actually saying,“Here, I am not going to consume right now, so why don’t you?” Banks simply play the middleman:they collect lots of people’s savings and then lend out lots of funds.

　　　It takes an unbelievable amount of goods and services to construct a building.It takes food, shelter, and entertainment for all of the workers,as well.Without savings,it is quite impossible to finance such a construction.The coordination(協(xié)調)between savings and consumption is a necessary basis for sound economic growth.This coordination is also why consumer lending (say , to borrow a big sum of money to buy a car) is not productive,in a strict sense.It doesn’t increase the net (凈的) amount of wealth of an economy.Those savings could have been used to construct,say, factory equipment.

　　　None of this means consumption and spending are “bad” things.They simply do not make us wealthier.Alter all,the final goal of production and savings is to consume.But to say that consumption is the engine of economic growth is to put the cart before the horse.Or, to rephrase:the consumption of wealth can never make you wealthier.Happier, perhaps.Wealthier, no.

63.What is the author’s attitude towards Keynes’ theory?

　　　A.Approving. B.Reserved.     C.Uncertain. D.Critical.

64.The underlined word “revenue” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to‘‘_________”.

　　　A.cost B.reputation C.interest D.income

65.The author holds the view that__________.

　　　A.governments shall cut out banks as financial middleman

　　　B.economic activity is equal to economic growth

　　　C.consumer lending is the engine of economic growth

　　　D.consumption is likely to lead to increased happiness

66.According to the author, which chart could show the effect of savings on economy?

　　　X:Economic Growth Y:Savings

67.What would be the best title for this passage?

　　　A.The Saving Behavior of the Economy       B.Consumption:a Key Concept in Economy

　　　C.Consumer Spending and Economic Growth  D.The Truth about Savings and Consumption

　　　D

　　　Kino,Juana,and Coyotito begin their long march north.They walk all night and make camp in a roadside shelter at sunrise.Along the way, Juana begins to doubt whether the pearl is worth far more than the dealers offered,but Kino points out that his attackers would not have tried to steal the pearl were it worth nothing.

　　　The family hurries farther into the shade for another rest.As Juana plays with Coyotito,Kino wakes from a dream and demands that they keep quiet.Moving forward, he spots three trackers following them.He decides to lose them up in the mountains.

　　　As their climbing grows steeper, Kino varies and doubles back on their way to mislead the trackers.As the sun begins to set,Kino and Juana reach a nearby opening and refill their water supply at a pool and stream,where Juana washes Coyotito.From the lookout,Kino spies the trackers at a distance below, hurrying up the slope(山坡).Kino misleads the trackers by creating a false track up the cliff(懸崖)and going down again to take shelter with Juana and Coyotito in a nearby cave.

　　　By evening,the trackers arrive at the pool, where they make camp and eat.In the cave, Coyotito grows restless,and Juana quiets him.Kino notices that two of the men have settled into sleep,while the third keeps watch.

　　　Kino takes off his clothes to avoid being seen by the watchman, hiding behind a palm tree waiting for a move before the moon rises.Just as he is ready to spring,the moon appears, and he realizes that his opportunity has been lost.

　　　Suddenly, Coyotito lets out a cry.The watchman shoots in the direction of the cry.As the watchman shoots,Kino springs upon the trackers,killing the watchman and seizing the gun.Knocking one of the other men out with a fierce blow, he watches as the last man attempts to flee up the cliff.The man makes little progress before Kino stops him with a first shot, and then murders him with another shot between the eyes.In the moment that follows, Kino hears the blood-curdling cry issuing from his wife,mourning the death of Coyotito.

　　　Later the next day, Kino and Juana walk side by side into La Paz,with Juana carrying Coyotito’s body in a sack over her shoulder.They walked,with unmoving eyes.all the way to the sea.At the edge of the water, Kino stops and pulls the pearl from his pocket.He stares into it carefully, and a flood of evil(邪惡的)memories washes over him.Kino holds the pearl out in front of him,and then throws it out into the ocean.

68.What can be inferred from the passage?

　　　A.The attackers are caught stealing the pearl.   B.The dealers might have bid low on the pearl.

　　　C.The couple are being tracked for their baby.

　　　D.The family make camp in a roadside shelter at daybreak.

69.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

　　　A.Juana keeps watch in the cave.          B.Kino is waiting for a move at moonrise.

　　　C.Coyotito is shot dead by the watchman.   D.The last man manages to flee up the cliff.

70.Which words can best describe Kino?

　　A.Caring and brave.         B.Merciful and strong-willed.

　　C.Clever but nervous.        D.Determined but slow-minded.

71.What does the author intend to tell us?

　　　A.Greed is the root of all evil.            B.True love stands the test of hardship.

　　　C.It is not easy to live a life on the run.    D.Wisdom cannot be purchased with the pearl.
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