A、The white-collar workers. B、The blue-collar workers. C、Both the economists and stockholders. D、The persons with business inter

Yesterday we discussed the problem of rising prices, or in the economist’s terms, inflation. We noted that, during periods of inflation, all prices and incomes do not rise at the same rate. Some incomes rise more slowly than the cost of living, and a few do not rise at all. Other incomes rise more rapidly than the cost of living.
    We concluded that persons with fixed incomes, for example, the elderly who depend upon pensions, and persons with slow-rising incomes, for example, an employee with a salary agreed to in a long-term contract, will be most seriously affected by inflation. Please recall that while their dollar incomes stay the same, the cost of goods and services rises, and in effect, real income decreases, that is, they are able to purchase less with the same amount of money.
    We also talked about the fact that stockholders and persons with business interests and investments would probably benefit most from inflation, since high prices would increase sales receipts, and profits would likely rise faster than the living cost.
    And now, before we begin today’s lecture, are there any questions about the term inflation or any of the examples in our discussion so far?
Questions 18 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
18. What is the passage?
19. What persons will not be most seriously affected by inflation?
20. Who do you think will probably benefit most from inflation?