1.Los Angeles:Love for Mom is necessary,but buying flowers on her big day may not be.
A slump in flower sales since late last year is likely to continue through Mother's Day,another example of Americans cutting back on spending due to recession fears,which is a period of reduced trade and business activity,and increasing food and gas prices.
"If you look at what has happened on Valentine's Day and Christmas,the market for flowers has cooled,"said Eric Beder,an analyst at Brean Murray."Growth has slowed in the past two quarters.Mother's Day will probably be a slow quarter,too."
US flower sales for Mother's Day will fall thirteen percent this year to 2billion,withconsumersspendinganaverageof17.65,according to the National Federation.
Mother's Day,which accounts for a one-quarter of annual holiday purchases,according to the Society of American Florists,is traditionally the day when flowers are delivered to the doorsteps of many mothers.But this year,the shop-owners are concerned.Gabriel Soto,who owns a flower shop beneath an office high-rise in the Los financial district,is expecting lower sales and has ordered 30percent fewer flowers than normal this Mother's Day.Last month,Soto,who also operates website downtown-flowers.net,closed another store in a nearby building that was headquarters to a huge company.After workers lost their jobs due to the housing crisis (危机),orders decreased.
32.The underlined word"slump"in Para.2probably meansB.
A.sharp decrease in price
B.sudden fall by a large amount
C.global worry of flower stores
D.great fear for losing jobs
33.This passage infers that Americans haveC.
A.delivered flowers to every house for mothers
B.no longer bought flowers for mothers
C.met financial problems recently
D.cut back on spending because of unemployment
34.Which would be the best title for this passage?A
A.Sorry Mom,Love You but No Flowers
B.Holiday Purchases Have a Hard Time
C.Hard Time Coming Nearer
D.Mother's Day and Crisis
35.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?B
A.Gabriel Soto was concerned about losing his job.
B.Gabriel Soto owns a flower shop on line.
C.Gabriel Soto won't buy flowers for his mother on Mother's Day this year.
D.Gabriel Soto has ordered flowers this Mother's day.
分析 本文主要讲述了由于美国经济衰退的影响,美国的鲜花产业受到冲击,以至于在母亲节的时候,都没法买花向妈妈表达爱意,以此说明经济危机的影响极大.
解答 32.B 词义猜测题,根据后面的another example of Americans cutting back on spending due to recession fears,美国人因为经济萧条而削减开支的另一个例子可知这里指的是花销量的减少,所以答案选B.
33.C.A推断题.根据第二段another example of Americans cutting back on spending due to recession fears,which is a period of reduced trade and business activity,and increasing food and gas prices.可知又有经济危机,美国人都面临了一定的经济问题,C正确.A、B、D项与文意不符合.
34.A 主旨大意归纳题,根据主题段Los Angeles:Love for Mom is necessary,but buying flowers on her big day may not be.的提示,以及后文对美国经济衰退的描述,说明母亲节买花的不可能的原因,最后再结合选项,A为正确选项.
35.B 细节理解题.根据文章最后一段对Gabriel Soto 的描述,Last month,Soto,who also operates website downtown-flowers.net,closed another store in a nearby building that was headquarters to a huge company.Gabriel Soto 不仅有实际经营的花店,也有网上店铺,符合选项B的描述,因此答案为B.
点评 本文是一篇历史文化类阅读理解,题目涉及多道细节理解题,做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析,结合选项选出正确答案.推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案,切忌胡乱猜测,一定要做到有理有据.