Questions 25 to 27 are based on the following news.

(25/26) Economists and U. S. officials had almost identical reactions to a Labor Department report that American employers cut 467,000 jobs in June.

Jack Albin is chief investment officer at Chicago-based Harris Private Bank. “Clearly，this month’s report is a setback.” Cristina Romer heads President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors. “This is certainly a setback.” Both Ablin and Romer appeared on Bloomberg Television.

(26) Last month’s job cuts total exceeded most economists’ expectations by more than 100，000. But the one-point percent jump in the unemployment rate from May was more modest than had been anticipated. June’s job cuts reversed a trend of lower month-by-month losses in the U. S. economy. May saw just more than 300，000 jobs eliminated，down sharply from more than 500,000 in April.

Although June’s total was higher than the number recorded in May, both figures are significantly lower than job-loss totals recorded at the beginning of the year—a fact Romer was quick to point out. “Back in December, January, February and March, we were losing close to 700，000 jobs a month. So, obviously any time you lose even one job, it's a tragedy. We have seen some diminution.”

But even if the U. S. economy is losing jobs at a slower pace than half a year ago, the overall unemployment picture remains bleak, according to Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group.

America’s true unemployment rate may，in fact, be higher than the number provided by the Labor Department, which does not include people who searched for work in vain and have given up，or those who settled for part-time work. (27) If both categories are added, the unemployment rate would top 16%，the highest number in 15 years.

 

题目

News 4

Questions 25 to 27 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item，you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.

Now, listen to the news.

25. Economists and U. S. officials had almost_____ reactions to a Labor Department report that American employers cut 467,000 jobs in June.

A. identified B. the same

C. the opposite D. the alternative

26. How many job cuts did most economists expect last month?

A. 100,000. B. 300,000. C. 367,000. D. 500,000.

27. If both categories are added, the unemployment rate would top_____, the highest number in ______years.

A. 15%； 16 B. 16%； 15 C. 15% ； 60 D. 16%； 50

 

答案解析

25B词义题。本题考查identical的含义，意为“相同的”，故选择B。

26C计算题。根据对新闻的理解，6月份工作岗位削减了 46.7万个，比经济学家预 计的多了 10万，故经济学家预计的岗位削减数为36.7万个，故选C。

27B细节题。本题考查数字中-ty与-teen的区别，答案为B。