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  3. Talk About American Economic Development Decelerates of Gains or Losses When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero is

Talk About American Economic Development Decelerates of Gains or Losses When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero is

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问题         Talk About American Economic Development Decelerates of Gains or Losses
    When it comes to the slowing economy, Ellen Spero isn’t biting her nails just yet. But the 47-year-old manicurist isn’t cutting .filling or polishing as nails as she’d ike to, either. Most of her clients spend $ 12 to $ 50 weekly , but last month two longtime customers suddenly stopped showing up. Spero blames the softening economy. "I’m a good economic indicator," she says," I provide a service that people can do without when they’re concerned about saving some dollars."So Spero is downscaling, shopping at middle-brow Dillard’s department store near her suburban Cleveland home, instead of Neiman Marcus, "I don’t know it other clients are going to abandon me,too." She says.
    Even before Alan Greenspan’s admission that America’s red-hot economy is cooling, lots of working folks had already seen signs of the slowdown themselves. From car dealerships to Gap outlets, sales have been lagging for months as shoppers temper their spending. For retailers, who last year took in 24 percent of their revenue between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cautious approach is coming at a crucial time. Already, experts say, holiday sales are off 7 percent from last year’s pace. But don’t sound any alarms just yet. 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.
    Consumers say they’re not in despair because, despite the dreadful headlines, their own fortunes still feel pretty good. Home prices are holding steady in most regions. In Manhattan, " there’s a new gold rush happening in the $4 million to $10 million range, predominantly fed by Wall Street bonuses. "Says broker Barbara Corcoran. In San Francisco, prices are still rising even as frenzied overbidding quiets. "Instead of 20 to 30 offers, now maybe you only get two or three,"says John Tealdi, a Bay Area real-estate broker. And most folks still feel pretty comfortable about their ability to find and keep a job.
    Many folks see silver linings to this slowdown. Potential home buyers would cheer for lower interest rates. Employers wouldn’t mind a little fewer buddies in the job market. Many consumers seem to have been influenced by stock-market swings,which inves-tors 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.
By "Ellen Spero isn’t biting her nails just yet" (Line 2,Paragraph 1) ,the author means______.
选项 A、Spero can hardly maintain her business
B、Spero is too much engaged in her work
C、Spero has grown out of her bad habit
D、Spero is not in a desperate situation
答案D
解析 语义理解题。该句的字面含义：她还没开始啃指甲。接下来But引出的转折非常重要，从这部分可知斯佩罗是美甲师，由于经济衰退，她的生意不如以前那么好做了，但还没有到难以维持的程度。由此反推出第一句的意思应是：对斯佩罗来说，情况还没有达到让人绝望的地步。可见[D]“斯佩罗还没有绝望”为正确答案。事实上bite one’s nails意为“束手无策”，也就是[D]所表达的意思。
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