1．In the past，falling oil prices have given a boost to the world economy，but recent forecasts for global growth have been toned down（不容乐观），even as oil prices sink lower and lower．Docs that mean the link between lower oil prices and growth has weakened？
Some experts say there are still good reasons to believe cheap oil should heat up the world economy．Consumers have more money in their pockets when they're paying less at the pump．They spend that money on other things，which stimulates the economy．
The biggest gains go to countries that import most of their oil like China，Japan，and India，But doesn't the extra money in the pockets of those countries'consumers mean an equal loss in oil producing countries，cancelling out the gains？Not necessarily，says economic researcher Sara Johnson．"Many oil producers built up huge reserve funds when prices were high，so when prices fall they will draw on their reserves to support government spending，and subsidies（补贴） for their consumers．"
But not al!oil producers have big reserves．In Venezuela，collapsing oil prices have sent its economy into free-fall．
Economist Carl Weinberg believes the negative effects of plunging oil prices are overwhelming（压跨）the positive effects of cheaper oil．The implication（牵连）is a sharp decline in global trade，which has plunged（暴跌）partly because oil-producing nations can't afford to import as much as they used to．
Sara Johnson acknowledges that the global economic benefit from a fall in oil prices today is likely lower than it was in the past．One reason is that more countries are big oil producers now，so the nations suffering from the price drop account for a larger share of the global economy．
Consumers，in America at least，are acting cautiously with the savings they're getting at the gas pump，as the memory of the recent great recession（经济衰退）is still fresh in their mind．And a number of oil-producing countries are trimming their gasoline subsidies and raising taxes，so the net savings for global consumers is not as big as the oil price plunge might suggest．
51．What does the author mainly discuss in the passage？D
A．The reasons behind the plunge of oil prices．
B．Possible ways to stimulate the global economy．
C．The effect of falling oil prices on consumer spending．
D．The impact of cheap oil on global economic growth．
52．Why do some experts believe cheap oil will stimulate the global economy？B
A．Manufacturers can produce consumer goods at a much lower cost．
B．Consumers will spend their saving from cheap oil on other commodities．
C．Lower oil prices have always given a big boost to the global economy．
D．Oil prices may rise or fall but economic laws are not subject to change．
53．What happens in many oil-exporting countries when oil prices go down？A
A．They use their money reserves to back up consumption．
B．They suspend import of necessities from overseas．
C．They reduce production drastically to boost oi1 prices．
D．They try to stop their economy from going into free-fall．
54．How does Carl Weinberg view the current oil price plunge？C
A．It is one that has seen no parallel in economic history．
B．It still has a chance to give rise to a boom in the global economy．
C．Its negative effects more than cancel out its positive effects．
D．Its effects on the global economy go against existing economic laws．
55．Why haven't falling oil prices stimulated the global economy as they did before？C
A．People are not spending all the money they save on gas．
B．The global economy is likely to undergo another recession．
C．Oil importers account for a larger portion of the global economy．
D．People the world over are afraid of a further plunge in oil prices．
分析 在过去石油价格的下降对全球经济带来很大的好处，但现在不容乐观．
解答 DBACC
51．D 主旨大意题．根据第一段内容falling oil prices have given a boost to the world economy，but recent forecasts for global growth have been toned down可知，油价的下降对世界经济有一个影响，下文分别讲述了影响的大小，故答案为D．
52．B 细节题．根据第二段They spend that money on other things，which stimulates the economy．
这句话可知，油价下降了，消费者把钱花在其他地方，刺激了经济的发展，故答案为B．
53．A 细节题．第三段when prices fall they will draw on their reserves to support government spending，and subsidies（补贴） for their consumers告诉我们当油价下降时，出口国会给消费者发放补贴，故答案为A．
54．C 判断推理题．根据文章Economist Carl Weinberg believes the negative effects of plunging oil prices are overwhelming（压跨）the positive effects of cheaper oil这个经济学家认为，消极影响大于积极的，故答案为C．
55．C 细节题．Sara Johnson acknowledges that the global economic benefit from a fall in oil prices today is likely lower than it was in the past这句话提到全球经济从油价下降获得的好处远比以前要少的多，故答案为C．
点评 做本题时，首先要快速浏览全文，把握文章的主旨大意，理清作者的写作思路；然后结合上下文，逐句分析，并正确理解题干的意思；最后结合选项中内容，找到符合文意的选项．
