2011年英语二阅读text4
Will the European Union make it? The question would have sounded strange not long ago.
Now even the project’s greatest cheerleaders talk of a continent facing a “Bermuda triangle” of
debt, population decline and lower growth.
As well as tho chronic problems, the EU faces an acute crisis in its economic core, the 16
countries that u the single currency. Markets have lost faith that the euro zone’s economies,
weaker or stronger, will one day converge thanks to the discipline of sharing a single currency,
which denies uncompetitive members the quick fix of devaluation.
Yet the debate about how to save Europe’s single currency from disintegration is stuck. It is
stuck becau the euro zone’s dominant powers, France and Germany, agree on the need for
greater harmonization within the euro zone, but disagree about what to harmoni.
Germany thinks the euro must be saved by stricter rules on borrowing, spending and
competitiveness, backed by quasi-automatic sanctions for governments that do not obey. The 月色正浓
might include threats to freeze EU funds for poorer regions and EU mega-projects, and even the
suspension of a country’s voting rights in EU ministerial councils. It insists that economic
co-ordination should involve all 27 members of the EU club, among whom there is a small
majority for free - market liberalism and economic rigour; in the inner core alone, Germany fears,7
a small majority favour French interference.
A “southern” camp headed by France wants something different: “European economic
government” within an inner core of euro-zone members. Translated, that means politicians
intervening in monetary policy and a system of redistribution from richer to poorer members, via
cheaper borrowing for governments through common Eurobonds or complete fiscal transfers.
Finally, figures clo to the French government have murmured, euro-zone members should agree
to some fiscal and social harmonization: e.g., curbing competition in corporate-tax rates or labour
costs.
It is too soon to write off the EU. It remains the world’s largest trading block. At its best, the
European project is remarkably liberal: built around a single market of 27 rich and poor countries,
its internal borders are far more open to goods, capital and labour than any comparable trading
area. It is an ambitious attempt to blunt the sharpest edges of globalization, and make capitalism
benign.
36. The EU is faced with so many problems that 马桶冲水________.
[A] it has more or less lost faith in markets
[B] even its supporters begin to feel concerned
[C] some of its member countries plan to abandon euro
[D] it intends to deny the possibility of devaluation
37. The debate over the EU’s single currency is stuck becau the dominant powers ________.
[A] are competing for the leading position
[B] are busy handling their own cris
[C] fail to reach an agreement on harmonisation
属羊的最佳婚配
[D] disagree on the steps towards disintegration
38. To solve the euro problem, Germany propod that 跑滴滴一个月能挣多少钱________.
[A] EU funds for poor regions be incread
[B] stricter regulations be impod
[C] only core members be involved in economic co-ordination
[D] voting rights of the EU members be guaranteed
39. The French proposal of handling the crisis implies that ________.
[A] poor countries are more likely to get funds
[B] strict monetary policy will be applied to poor countries
[C] loans will be readily available to rich countries
[D] rich countries will basically control Eurobonds
40. Regarding the future of the EU, the author ems to feel ________.
[A] pessimistic
[B] desperate
[C] conceited
[D] hopeful
答案及解析：
疙瘩面36. 【答案】B
【解析】具体信息题。根据题干信息 EU is faced with so many problems 可定位到文章第
一段。第一段引出主题，指出欧盟目前正面临危机。其中第三句指出甚至连欧盟一体化
员工保密协议
最坚定的支持者也在议论欧洲大陆正面临的危机（Now even the project’s greatest
cheerleaders talk of a continent facing a “Bermuda triangle”…）。可见，欧盟的支持者
（cheerleaders）可开始对欧盟所面临的危机表示担忧。故[B] 选项正确，选项中的
supporter 对应原文的 cheerleaders。
37. 【答案】C
【解析】具体信息题。根据题干信息 The debate over the EU’s single currency isstuck 可定位
到文章第三段。第三段第一句指出对于如何挽救欧洲的单一货币免于解体的讨论陷入了
僵局，第二句以 becau 引导出陷入僵局的原因，即作为欧元区的主导国家，法国和德
国均认为欧元区内部需要更加协调，但是在哪些方面需要协调，两者却意见不一（France
and Germany, agree on…, but disagree about what to harmoni. ）。故[C] 学生网站选项正确。
