In the past, falling oil prices have given a boost to the world economy, but recent forecasts for global growth have been toned down, even as oil prices sink lower and lower. Does that mean the link between lower oil prices and growth has weakened?
Some experts say there are still good reasons to believe cheap oil should heat up the world economy. Consumers have more money in their pockets when they’re paying less at the pump. They spend that money on other things, which stimulates the economy.
The biggest gains go to countries that import most of their oil like China, Japan and India. But doesn’t the extra money in the pockets of those countries’ consumers mean an equal loss in oil- producing countries, cancelling out the gains? Not necessarily, says economic researcher Sara Johnson. “Many oil producers built up huge reserve funds when prices were high, so when prices fall they will draw on their reserves to support government spending and subsidies (补贴)for their consumers.”
But not all oil producers have big reserves. In Venezuela, collapsing oil prices have sent its economy into free-fall.
Economist Carl Weinberg believes the negative effects of plunging oil prices are overwhelming the positive effects of cheaper oil. The implication is a sharp decline in global trade, which has plunged partly because oil-producing nations can’t afford to import as much as they used to.
Sara Johnson acknowledges that the global economic benefit from a fall in oil prices today is likely lower than it was in the past. One reason is that more countries are big oil producers now, so the nations suffering from the price drop account for a larger share of the global economy.
Consumers, in the U.S. at least, are acting cautiously with the savings they’re getting at the gas pump, as the memory of the recent great recession is still fresh in their mind. And a number of oil- producing countries are trimming their gasoline subsidies and raising taxes, so the net savings for global consumers is not as big as the oil price plunge might suggest.
What does the author mainly discuss in the passage?
Why do some experts believe cheap oil will stimulate the global economy?
What happens in many oil-exporting countries when oil price go down?
How does Carl Weinberg View the current oil price plunge?
Why haven't falling oil prices boosted the global economy as they did before?
问题1选项
A.The reasons behind the plunge of oil prices.
B.Possible ways to stimulate the global economy.
C.The impact of cheap oil on global economic growth.
D.The effect of falling oil prices on consumer spending.
问题2选项
A.Manufacturers can produce consumer goods at a much lower cost.
B.Lower oil prices have always given a big boost to the global economy.
C.Oil prices may rise or fall but economic laws are not subject to change.
D.Consumers will spend their savings from cheap oil on other commodities.
问题3选项
A.They suspend import of necessities from overseas.
B.They reduce production drastically to boost oil prices.
C.They use their money reserves to back up consumption.
D.They try to stop their economy from going into free-fall.
问题4选项
A.It is one that has seen no parallel in economic history.
B.Its negative effects more than cancel out its positive effects.
C.It still has a chance to give rise to a boom in the global economy.
D.Its effects on the global economy go against existing economic laws.
问题5选项
A.People are not spending all the money they save on gas.
B.The global economy is likely to undergo another recession.
C.Oil importers account for a larger portion of the global economy.
D.People the world over are afraid of a further plunge in oil prices.
第1题:C
第2题:D
第3题:C
第4题:B
第5题:A
【定位】首段,并综合全文。
【解析】本题实际询问文章的主题,是主旨题。第1段指出当前油价下跌,但经济增长却放缓的事实,最后一 句为设问,低油价(lower oil prices)和经济增长(growth)的关系是否已变弱。下文内容实际上是从不同的角度(Some experts、两名经济学家Sara Johnson和Carl Weinberg、和消费者)回答该问题,故文章主题 应该是围绕低油价对全球经济的影响而展开的,C项“廉价石油对全球经济增长的影响”正确。
【定位】根据题干中的some experts定位至第2段。
【解析】本题询问为什么有些专家相信廉价的石油会刺激全球经济发展。第2段第1句对应题干主体内容, 而第2、3句是支持该观点的具体论据,第3句中的that money指的就是消费者从油费上省出来的钱,文中说消费者会把这笔钱用在别的事情上,从而刺激经济(stimulates the economy),D项中的other commodities是对该句中的other things的具体化表述,故D项“消费者会把从廉价石油中节省下来的钱花到购买其他商品上”正确。
【定位】根据题干中的oil-exporting countries定位至第3段最后一句。
【解析】本题询问石油价格下跌时许多石油出口国会发生什么。题干中的oil-exporting countries指“石油出口国”,文中的oil-producing countries和oil producers均与此对应。第3段最后一句说石油生产国在油 价下跌时,会启用储备基金(draw on their reserves to support...),C项中的use和back up分别是该句 draw on和support的同义表达,分别表示“利用”和“支持”之义,可见C项“它们利用资金储备来支持消费”是对该处的同义改写。
【定位】根据题干中的专有名词Carl Weinberg定位至第5段第1句。
【解析】本题询问Carl Weinberg如何看待现在油价暴跌的现象。第5段第1句正是他的观点,该部分主干 为 the negative effects of... are overwhelming the positive effects of...,大意就是弊大于利。B 项中的 more than cancel out “更多地抵消”与该句中的overwhelming “压倒”语义相近,可见B项“它的消极影响更多地抵消了其积极作用”正确。
【定位】根据题干中的falling oil prices和they did before定位至最后两段。
【解析】题干所述内容“石油价格下跌没有像以前那样促进全球经济发展”与倒数第2段首句Sara Johnson 的观点一致(benefit from... today is likely lower than it was in the past)。之后讲述了几个原因。其一 是第6段末说的,石油输出国的数量变多了,从而使得受到油价下跌消极影响的国家增多(the nations suffering from... account for a larger share)。第二个原因是最后一段首句提到的,消费者对从油费中省下来的钱花得比较谨慎(acting cautiously with the savings),意即他们不会随意花完这些钱。第三个原因 是全文最后一句,石油生产国减少汽油补助和加税(trimming their gasoline subsidies and raising taxes)。各选项中,A项“人们没有把从油费上省下来的钱全花完”与第二个原因对应,故为答案。注意其中 they save on gas 是作定语从句,修饰 money,与原文的 the savings they're getting at the gas pump 对应。