1、高三英语培优外刊阅读班级：_学号：_姓名：_外刊精选10年来首次：美国为何突然降息？本周，全球金融界都在静候美联储是否降息的消息，一旦启动，将成为美国十年来首次降息。降息通常是各国经济放缓时刺激市场的大招，然而当前美国经济走势良好，因此外界对此次降息背后可能的政治原因议论不断。为何美联储降息影响这么大？它会对全球经济产生怎样的影响？End of an Era: Fed to Cut Rates for First Time in a DecadeIn a move to keep the economy on its upward swing, the US Federal Reserve i
2、s widely predicted to cut interest rates this week. For the first time in over a decade, so say insiders, the cost of borrowing money is set to fall.If the move does materialise, it will reverse the trend of gradual rate increases that has been in place ever since the Great Recession, during which t
3、he Fed slashed rates to near zero in order to rescue the economy.The Feds anticipated decision will come as good news to President Trump, who was critical of the Feds 2018 rate hike.But it is the precaution against the harmful effects of global economic slowdown, instead of politics, that will likel
4、y drive a move from Fed, which works independently of the White House.Concerns are already being voiced among economists, with some warning that low rates at this point in the business cycle could create bubbles and store up trouble for the future.【词汇过关】请写出下面文单词在文章中的中文意思。1.zeitgeist _2.inflation_3.e
5、ra r n. _4.decade deked n. _5.swing sw n. _6.insider nsad(r)n. _7.fall fl vi. _8.materialise mtrilaz vi. _9.slash sl vt. _10.anticipate ntspetvt._11.critical krtkl adj. _12.hike hak n. _13.precaution prkn _14.harmful h(r)mfladj. _15.slowdown sldann. _16.drive dravvt. _17.independently ndpendntliadv.
6、 _18.concern kns(r)nn. _19.voice vs vt. 表_20.economist iknmst n. _21.warning wrnn. _【词块学习】请从文章中找到下面中文相对应的文词块。1.美联储_2.经济大衰退2008年金融危机引发的经济衰退_3.次贷危机_4.美联储_5.降息_6.为了_7将来要（做某事）_8.改变趋势_9.自之后_10.经济大衰退_拓展练习阅读理解Breathing dirty air can cost someones lifespan (寿命) monthseven years, a new study finds. Worldwide
7、, air pollution lowers average lifespans by a year. Scientists shared their new findings in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.Air pollution (污染) has been linked to many health problems. Most earlier studies have looked at how tiny air pollutants affected rates of illness or death. But now a
8、n environmental scientist, Joshua Apte, is going even further. He works at the University of Texas, Austin. He together with his team is looking at life expectancy, hoping to make the threat easier to understand.PM 2.5 is what scientists call tiny particles of pollution in the air. Higher levels of
9、PM2.5 can cause health problems and cut months, if not years, from the average lifespan. This analysis shows pollution affects life expectancy in different parts of the world.The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting PM 2.5 to 10 micrograms (微克) per cubic (立方) meter of air. Aptes group
10、 used data to try to find how this low level would help people. But meeting the WHO standard wont get rid of health damage from dirty air. Thats because even below 10 micrograms per cubic meter pollution still causes huge risks.Reducing air pollution could increase life expectancy. The scientists al
11、so compared how other threats shorten life spans across the globe. These risk factors included smoking and cancer. These results show that in poor countries, cleaning up dirty air could greatly increase lifespans. It could have as big an effect as cleaning up drinking water, or curing lung cancer. H
12、owever, in wealthier countries air pollution shortens life expectancy by less than half a year. All forms of cancer, in fact, shorten the average life expectancy by more than 3.5 years. “Knowing this can really help people. or policymakers, decide where to spend their money.” says Kirk Smith.1.Why i
13、s Joshua Aptes team carrying out the study?A.Know how small air pollutants are.B.Study many different healthy problems.C.Let people understand air pollution better.D.Study the life expectancy of different people.2.What will happen if one country limits PM 2.5 to 10 micrograms per cube meter?A.Its ai
14、r is very clean.B.It still has pollution risks.C.It will get a prize from WHO.D.Its people will live a healthy life.3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?A.Its very hard to clean up dirty air in a short time.B.Lung cancer is the leading killer in all kinds of cancers.C.Reducing air pollution c
15、an increase all peoples lifespans much.D.The study will help different countries or people take different policies.4.What can be the best title for the text?A.Air Pollution is Shortening Lives WorldwideB.Many Factors are Affecting Peoples HealthC.Governments are Trying to Make Lifespan LongD.The Eff
16、ect of Cancer is Worse than Dirty Air外刊精选答案【词汇过关】请写出下面文单词在文章中的中文意思。1.zeitgeist 时代精神2.inflation 通货膨胀3.era r n. 时代；年代4.decade deked n. 十年5.swing sw n. 波动6.insider nsad(r)n. 知情人；业内人士7.fall fl vi. （规模、数量或力量）减少，降低8.materialise mtrilaz vi. 实现；成为现实9.slash sl vt. 大幅削减；大幅减少10.anticipate ntspetvt. 预测；期望11.cri
17、tical krtkl adj. 批评的，批判的；关键性的，决定性的12.hike hak n. （价格或费用的大幅）提高，增加13.precaution prkn 预防；预防措施14.harmful h(r)mfladj. 有害的15.slowdown sldann. 减速；减缓16.drive dravvt. 强迫；迫使17.independently ndpendntliadv. 独立地；各自地18.concern kns(r)nn. 担心；忧虑19.voice vs vt. 表达；表示20.economist iknmst n. 经济学家21.warning wrnn. 警告；告诫；提
18、醒【词块学习】请从文章中找到下面中文相对应的文词块。1.the (US) Federal Reserve / the Fed 美联储2.the Great Recession 经济大衰退2008年金融危机引发的经济衰退3.subprime crisis 次贷危机也称次级房贷危机，也译为次债危机4.Federal Reserve 美联储5.cut rates降息6.in a move to do为了7.be predicted to将来要（做某事）8.reverse the trend of改变趋势9.ever since自之后10.the Great Recession经济大衰退【全文翻译】一
19、个时代的终结：美联储拟降息，十年来首次外界广泛预测美联储将于本周降息，以保持经济上升趋势。据业内人士透露，贷款的成本将实现十多年来的首次下降。经济大衰退期间，美国曾为挽救经济而将利率降至接近于零，此后利率逐年上升；如果降息成真，此举将让这个既定已久的趋势发生逆转。对美国总统特朗普而言，美联储这一备受期待的决定将是一个好消息，他对美联储2018年的利率上调颇有微词。不过，美联储的运作独立于白宫，它之所以可能降息，并不是出于政治目的，而是为了预防全球经济放缓带来的负面影响。经济学家们已经表达了担忧，一些人警告称，在当前商业周期的这个节点，调低利率可能会造成泡沫，并给未来酿下苦果。拓展练习阅读理解参考答案1.C 2.B 3.D 4.A
