Viewed from one perspective, the euro area is a minor miracle. Instead of collapsing in a heap, as seemed possible two years ago

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问题     Viewed from one perspective, the euro area is a minor miracle. Instead of collapsing in a heap, as seemed possible two years ago, the currency club is not just intact but has a new member, Latvia, which joined in January. An economic recovery has been under way since last spring and appears to be strengthening. But seen from another standpoint the euro zone is an accident waiting to happen. As inflation slips ever lower, a slide into Japanese-style deflation looks increasingly likely. That would raise an already heavy debt burden in real terms and pull down growth.
    The actions of the European Central Bank will be crucial if such an outcome is to be avoided. The ECB’s mission is to achieve price stability, and since 2003 it has interpreted this to mean an inflation rate over the medium term of "below but close to" 2%. Yet despite a fall in annual inflation to just 0. 5% in March, the central bank was expected to hold its fire when its council met on April 3rd. Previously, it had lowered the main policy rate to 0. 25% in November.
    One reason for the ECB to wait was that underlying inflation, excluding more unstable elements such as energy and food, has been broadly stable over the past six months, at around 0. 8%. The council also sees grounds for being patient and allowing its very low interest rates to take effect. It thinks that the recovery, which started in the second quarter of 2013 after a double-dip recession lasting a year and a half, should eventually bring inflation back towards the target.
    Indeed, the once-sickly euro zone is losing some of its pallor. The recovery, though feeble, has nonetheless been sustained. Output rose by 0. 3% in the second quarter of 2013, and although growth slowed to 0. 1% in the third, it picked up to 0. 2% in the fourth. More important, there are signs that the pace may be accelerating this year.
According to the first paragraph, which one about the euro zone is NOT true?

选项 A、Euro zone will definitely fall into deflation soon.
B、Deflation of the euro zone may hinder its growth.
C、There are more members in the euro zone than before.
D、Euro zone once experienced the threat of disintegration.

答案A

解析 根据题目要求定位到第一段。选项[A]对应该段倒数第二句:As inflation slips everlower,a slide into Japanese-style deflation looks increasingly likely.原文说的是deflation lookslikely,而该项说的是will definitely fall into deflation soon,语气过于绝对,与原文表述不符,故[A]错误。选项[B]对应最后一句:That would raise an already heavy debt burden in realterms and pull down growth.其中that指代上文deflation,该句的pull down growth“降低增长速度”=hinder its growth“阻碍增长”,故该项正确。选项[C]对应第二句下半句:the currency club is not just intact but has a new member,其中currency club指euro zone“欧元区”,has a new member=more members…than before,故正确。选项[D]对应第二句上半句:Instead of collapsing in a heap,as seemed possible two years ago…其中collapse“坍塌”=该项的disintegration“解散”;seem possible“看似可能”=experience the threat“经历威胁”,故该项正确。综上,本题答案为[A]。
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