Many folks see silver linings to this slowdown. Potential home buyers would cheer for lower interest rates. Employers wouldn’t mind a little fewer bubbles in the job market. Many consumers seem to have been influenced by stock-market swings, which investors now view as a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom. Diners might see an upside, too. Getting a table at Manhattan’s hot new Alain Ducasse restaurant used to be impossible. Not anymore. For that, Greenspan & Co. may still be worth toasting.

　　52. How do the public feel about the long-term economic situation?

　　[A] Optimistic

　　[B] Confused

　　[C] Carefree.

　　[D] Panicked

　　[答案] A

　　[解题思路]

　　要判断公众对于当前经济形势的态度，需要从全文来把握寻找关键信息。其中第二段最后一句为“Consumers seem only mildly concerned, not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy’s long-term prospects, even as they do some modest belt-tightening”(消费者们似乎只是稍有忧虑，他们并没有开始恐慌，许多人说他们对经济的长远发展还是很乐观的，虽然他们已经勒起了裤腰带)，可见人们的态度是乐观的，对应选项为A。C选项的错误在于该次过于绝对，人们并没有完全的无忧无虑，而是“concerned”，即对经济放缓形势表示关注。D选项错误，因为原文明确指出人们“not panicked”。至于B选项也与原文意思不符。此外，文中表示公众的乐观情绪的还有第三段第一句中的“their own fortunes still feel pretty good”(他们感觉自己的运气并没有什么损失)和最后一句中的“most folks still feel pretty comfortable”(大多数人感觉还不错)等。

　　[题目译文]

　　公众对目前经济形势是怎么想的？

　　[A]乐观

　　[B]困惑

　　[C]无忧无虑

　　[D]恐慌