外刊经贸知识选读2016年4月真题试题及答案解析（00096）

Compared with Dell, Hewlett-Packard relies more heavily on consumers.

While the global financial crisis continued to take a toll on societies and politics globally, 2011 has been a year of relentless turmoil and chaos. What underlies these waves of turmoil is the labor pains of the birth of a new international order.Economic growth was severely unbalanced in 2011. The European and U. S. debt crises have gravely delayed the recovery of the world economy. Though the United Slates raised its debt ceiling after heated debate to avoid default, the Standard & Poor’s rating agency downgraded the credit rating of the United States for the first time.

Hewlett-Packard forecast a drop in its annual sales due to the slowdown in home-computer sales.

Because Dell now focuses on business customers, its consumer demand remains relatively stable.

Passage 2

Dell Inc, rose as much as 6.7 percent after its profit topped analysis’ estimates, marking the second straight quarter that the company’s results outshined those of rival Hewlett-Packard Co.Net income surged to $945 million, or 49 cents a share, from $341 million, or 17 cents, a year earlier, Dell said yesterday. Excluding certain costs, earnings were 55 cents in the period, which ended April 29. Analysts estimated 43 cents on average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.Dell’s emphasis on business customers, bolstered by an expansion into corpora data centers, is helping it withstand a slump in consumer demand. A slowdown in home-computer sales has roiled industry leader Hewlett—Packard, which cut its annual sales forecast earlier yesterday. While Dell also saw its consumer revenue drop, the company said it was able to squeeze more profit out of each sale.“They executed much better than expected despite strong headwinds,” said Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach Inc, in San Francisco. Dell gels about 20 percent of sales from consumers, compared with about 30 percent at Hewlett-Packard, said Wu, who has a neutral rating on Dell shares.Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, gained 85 cents, or 5. 4 percent, to $16.75 at 4 p. m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. The shares have risen 24 percent this year.

It is the first time that Dell’s quarterly profit has surpassed Hewlett-Packard Co.

Analysts estimated that Dell’s net income was 43 cents a share on average.

With sales of motor vehicle and parts excluded, the overall retail sales in the US actually fell slightly.

Recent retail sales figures suggest that consumers did most of their Christmas shopping in early December.

Many US families have cut clown on their spending due to weak income growth.

Passage 1

US retail sales rose less than expected over the Holidays while new jobless claims climbed to a six-week high, underlining the slow pace of recovery from recession.Retail sales increased 0.1 per cent in December to $400.6bn, missing forecasts of a 0.3 per cent rise and logging the weakest growth since last May, according to a commerce department report.Separately, first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose to 399,000. Economists say claims need to stay below 400,000 to sustain job growth.December sales of electronics and appliances fell 3.9 per cent and department store purchases slipped 0.2 per cent. Meanwhile, cheaper fuel prices brought down receipts at petrol stations 1.6 per cent last month, while food and beverage sales fell 0.2 per cent.“December’s retail sales figures suggest it was not a happy holiday season for US retailers,” said Paul Dales, senior US economist at Capital Economics. “In other words, households have started to pare back their spending, most probably because their real incomes have continued to fall.”An upward revision to November’s sales reading, from 0.2 per cent, suggested that consumers did most of their holiday shopping early in the season.“While there were sever media reports suggesting holiday shopping was solid, yea-on-year growth in chain store date did disappoint, and this data suggests the consumer, restrained by weak income growth, has lost some momentum outside autos,”said David Sloan, an economist at IFR Economics.Steep discounts and extended hours at many retailers lured last-minute shoppers to stores in the week leading up to Christmas, but the 2011 holiday season was seen as modest overall and many companies have downgraded their profit forecasts.Thursday’s department figures showed that December’s declines were offset by stronger demand for cars; sales of motor vehicles and parts were up 1.5 per cent, as indicated earlier this month by carmakers, who said December sales reached about 13.7m at a seasonally adjusted annual rate.Stripping out autos, overall retail sales fell 0.2 per cent compared with an expected 0.3 per cent gain. Sales excluding autos and petrol were flat in December.

US retail sales were expected to increase by 0.3% in December.

First-time claims for unemployment benefits climbed to 399,000, indicating the US recession is worsening.

Passage 2

(Aggregate) statistics for 1991 were dominated by the sharp decline in output in Central and Eastern Europe and by the severely (adverse) effects of the Gulf crisis on the economies of Middle Eastern countries. Estimates of GDP by major geographic region reveal that growth of output Accelerated in Latin American and in sub—Saharan Africa, while a pick-up in China helped sustain Asian activity. Despite a sharp slow-down in India, where CDP growth fell from 5.5 percent in 1990 to 2. 5 percent, the population—weighted growth rate of developing countries’ CDP—3.5 percent in 1991 —continued to (exceed) the ordinary measure.

39、What does the underlined word “aggregate” mean?

40、What’s the meaning of “adverse”?

41、What does “exceed” mean?

Passage 1

Hong Kong consumers enjoy a variety of shell eggs, including fresh hen and cluck eggs, dyed eggs for special occasions, eggs cooked in salt or tea leaves, pigeon eggs and preserved duck eggs. Fresh hen eggs, however, are the most popular item.Each consumer in Hong Kong eats an average of 215 fresh eggs and 20 preserved or dyed eggs each year. According to Hong Kong import statistics, the territory annually imports more than 1.2 billion shell eggs valued at $ 52 million. In addition, Hong Kong produces 4.5 million dozen hen, duck and goose eggs and 12 million dozen quail eggs annually.Chinese eggs dominate the fresh egg market with more than an 80% share. Thailand became the second largest supplier in 1984, following a nearly eightfold increase over 1983 shipments. The United Slates is currently the third largest supplier with a 7. 5% market share tn 1985—up from 6. 8%. Egg imports from the Netherlands also showed a dramatic increase in 1985.

36、Of all the egg products, what in mo%l popular with Hong Kong consumers?

37、What is China’s fresh egg market share in the world?

38、What is currently the third largest supplier of fresh eggs?

试销市场

石油输出国组织

独家经销合同

(附在商品上的)赠物券

贴现率

经济特区

优先权

生产资料

资本货物

消费品

liquid assets

surcharge

real estate

private trust

trade reprisal

price-rigging

spot market

market forces

insolvency

cash-strapped

WTO membership also (underpinned) Chinese export-led growth with a strong insurance policy against protectionism.

Cheng preferred not to set a minimum income limit, saying such a policy would be too (rigid) for low-income families which nevertheless have saved enough for a down payment.

The (rollercoaster) that the financial markets were facing during last week took its toll on the commodities markets as well.

The slowdown was mainly the result of a (sluggish) economic recovery in the US, the European Union and other developed economies.

Overseas investors are showing strong and increasing interest in holding Australian dollar-(denominated) bonds.

The sentiment caused by a deteriorating eurozone crisis haft (prompted) the demand for the government bonds issued by developed countries, such as the US.

BMW said its franchised (outlets) will notify customers of the recall through mail or phone calls.

Europe is the world’s growth (laggard) rather than its champion.

Thousands of Asian shoppers were to be found elbowing their way through the (throng) as keenly as the most bargain-savvy Brits.

In 2007, in a contest supervised by the World 13ankf the joint venture (outbid) more than eight competitors hailing from the United States, Canada, Russia and Europe to win the Afghan government’s contract.

A raging stock market made 2007 another (bumper) harvest year for hedge funds.

In foreign exchange markets, hedge funds are the currency (speculators) that worry governments the most.

The Asia-Pacific region, which was one of the few areas enjoying (dynamic) economic development at that time, aroused U. S. interest.

I (reckon) this year’s corn imports are likely to stand between 2 million tons and 2.5 million tons.

After a decade focused on events in the Middle East, the United Stales has recently (bolstered) its presence in the Asia-Pacific.