Investment and Consumption

　　Investment in the public sector,such as electricity,irrigation,public services and transport (excluding vehicles,ships and planes) increased by about 10%,although the emphasis moved to the transport and away from the other sectors mentioned.Trade and services recorded a 16 % ～17 % investment growth,including a 30 % increase in investment in business premises.Industrial investment is estimated to have risen by 8%.Although the share of agriculture in total gross investment in the economy continued to decline,investment grew by 9 % in absolute equipment.Housing construction had 12% more invested in it in 1964,not so much owing to increased demand,as to fears of new taxes and limitation of building.

　　Total consumption in real terms rose by close on 11% during 1964,and per capita personal consumption by under 7 %,as in 1963.The undesirable trend towards a rapid rise in consumption,evident in previous years,remained unaltered.Since at current prices consumption rose by 16 % and disposable income by 13 %,there was evidently a fall in the rate of saving in the private sector of the economy.Once again consumption patterns indicated a swift advance in the standard of living.Expenditure on food declined in significance,although consumption of fruit increased.Spending on furniture and household equipment,health,education and recreation continued to increase.The greatest proof of altered living standards was the rapid expansion of expenditure on transport (including private cars) and personal services of all kinds,which occurred during 1964.The progressive wealth of large sectors of the public was demonstrated by the changing composition of durable goods purchased.Saturation (饱和) point was rapidly being approached for items such as the first household radio,gas cookers,and electric refrigerators,whereas increasing purchases of automobiles and television sets were registered.

　　36.From this passage,we learn that people ____________.

　　A.spent more money than they earned

　　B.saved more money than previously

　　C.invested and consumed at an accelerated pace

　　D.spent their money wisely

　　37.The author thinks that the trend towards a rapid rise in consumption was "undesirable”because ____________.

　　A.expenditure on luxuries increased

　　B.people were wealthy

　　C.people consumed less

　　D.people saved less

　　38.Expenditure increased on all the following EXCEPT ____________.

　　A.food

　　B.automobiles

　　C.education

　　D.entertainment

　　39.It can be inferred from the increase of fruit consumption that ___________.

　　A.people had to spend more on transportation and furniture

　　B.the price of fruit dropped dramatically

　　C.people were more money conscious

　　D.people were more healthy conscious

　　40.The word "registered"in the last line most probably means ____________.

　　A.marked

　　B.approached

　　C.listed

　　D.booked

　　参考答案：

　　36.C　从本篇文章可以得知：A人们支出大于收入;B人们比以前更节约用钱了;C人们的投资和消费在加速增长;D人们花钱更精明了。

　　37.C　作者认为消费的快速增长是“不良”的原因是：A奢侈品的消费增加了;B人们富有了;C人们消费减少了;D人们储蓄减少了。

　　38.A　下列消费都有所增加，只有什么没增加?A食物;B汽车;C教育;D娱乐。

　　39.D　由水果消费的增长可以推断出：A人们不得不在交通工具和家具上花更多的钱;B水果的价格大大降低;C人们更加重视金钱了;D人们更加重视健康了。

　　40.A　文章最后一行中的“registered”的意思是：A明显的;B接近;C列举;D预定。

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（实习编辑：高奕飞）