Part V Cloze (15 minutes)
Directions:There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D) on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
UK households are cutting back on spending at the fastest rate since 1980. This is __67__ to the worst economic slowdown in three decades.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed __68__ spending fell by 1.2% in the first three months of the year. People spent less on housing, household goods and services, __69__ those who went on holiday abroad also spent __70__ less.
Consumers tightened their belts __71__ the face of job losses, pay __72__ or freezes and sharply reduced City bonuses. The figures showed employees' __73__ falling by 1.1% in the quarter, the largest fall __74__ records began in 1955. Wages and salaries declined, __75__ lower bonus payments in the financial sector than normal, while __76__ also fell.
The data was __77__ as part of the ONS's latest assessment of the UK economy, which __78__ that gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 1.9% in the first quarter, __79__ sharpest decline since 1979. GDP stood 4.1% __80__ than a year ago, the biggest annual fall since 1980.
"The breakdown (分析) of first-quarter GDP gives a pretty __81__ picture of weakness right across the __82__ in the early months of this year." said Jonathan Loynes of Capital Economics.
"With __83__ components like household spending and investment set to fall considerably further in __84__ to the weakness in the housing market, the labour market and bank lending we __85__ unconvinced that recent 'green shoots' (经济复苏迹象) will translate __86__ a return to decent ."
注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
67. A) submitting B) resorting C) contributing D) extending
68. A) personnel B) consumer C) folk D) client
69. A) while B) although C) because D) but
70. A) instantly B) simultaneously C) significantly D) actively
71. A) at B) in C) up D) over
72. A) dives B) pauses C) halts D) cuts
73. A) composition B) conservation C) compensation D) construction
74. A) since B) when C) as D) until
75. A) to B) by C) for D) with
76. A) competition B) employment C) achievement D) attraction
77. A) released B) relieved C) related D) relaxed
78. A) promoted B) justified C) confirmed D) advocated
79. A) whose B) this C) their D) its
80. A) poorer B) slimmer C) weaker D) lower
81. A) amazing B) depressing C) blurring D) puzzling
82. A) economy B) finance C) business D) commerce
83. A) right B) free C) cheap D) key
84. A) opposition B) response C) regard D) contrast
85. A) remain B) maintain C) retain D) sustain
86. A) toward B) through C) into D) beyond