Passage 2

China’s GDP will maintain a growth rate of about 8. 9 percent in 2012, said the annual economic blue book released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) on December 7. Though the growth speed is lower than in 2011, it is still a relatively high rate.Chen Jiagui, Director of the CASS Economic Department, said the Chinese economy is stable with appropriate ups and downs. A growth rate of 8—9 percent is ideal to create a good macroeconomic environment for deepening the reform, controlling inflation, adjusting the economic structure and transforming the economic growth pattern.The Chinese economy has slowed down in the last two years, arousing worries from home and abroad about the Chinese economy’s expected hard landing. Such worries are obviously unnecessary and the Chinese economy will continue to make contributions to the world economic recovery.According to the blue book, compared with 2011, the Chinese economy will face new challenges next year. China mainly faced pressure from rapid inflation in 2011, causing the task of curbing inflation to top the list of government priorities for macro-controls. But in 2012 when the economic growth will likely slow, China needs to both stabilize the economic growth speed and further curb inflation and strengthen macro-control efforts.Chen said thanks to the efforts in 2011. the rapidly growing prices have been curbed to some extent, but the main factors causing rapid price rises have remained unchanged. Today, prices in China are affected by the relationship between supply and demand, as well as the rising costs. Of the total, the producer price index (PPI) is mainly influenced by the relationship between supply and demand, while the consumer price index (CPI) is influenced by the rising costs.

21、China’s GDP will maintain a growth rate of 8. 9 percent in 2012, which is higher than in 2011.

2011，dubbed (被称为) the “year of global indignation,” revealed three major social problems of the current world.First, the financial crisis has caused rising income disparities. Living standards of the middle class were severely impacted as their wealth shrank by a wide margin. Second, rapidly developing information technology and globalization have brought people together. With the help of new media and non-state actors, turmoil in one country can easily spread to other countries. Third, the unbalanced population and employment structure have aggravated social tensions. The long-term unemployment of young people has made “young malcontents (不满现状者)” a common problem of the whole world.

Passage 2

Once, when Japan faced pressure from abroad, it would either give in reluctantly or keep quiet and hope (that the fuss would die down). No longer, it seems. The Clinton administration strongly believes in exerting such pressure. Its policy is to open some Japanese markets by setting import targets—(an approach) to trade policy that supporters call “results-oriented”. This ugly term foreshadows uncertain (consequences). Far from capitulating to this new thrust of American trade policy, Japan is taking a stand that could lead to a trans-Pacific confrontation.

49、What’s the meaning of “that the fuss would die down”?

50、What is the meaning of“approach”?

51、What is the meaning of “consequences”?

Passage 1

The trouble is, many countries still think of opening their markets to more imports as a concession to be made reluctantly, not (as economists see it) as something that is good for them in its own right. Even America and the European Union, which have led the push for open markets, still shelter parts of their economics for fear of hurting workers in coddled industries.Globalization has aroused worries in many rich countries that free trade with much poorer countries threatens jobs and prosperity. This was plain in last yearns debate in the United States and Mexico, was viewed by many Americans as their loss and Mexico’s gain. The idea that trade is desirable only if it happens among countries with similar wages dies hard.

46、What do economists think of opening markets to more imports?

47、Why do America and the European Union still shelter parts of their economies?

48、How did many Americans view last year’s debate in the United States and Mexico?

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