题目

The strike for Wednesday and Thursday has been called by the two big unions that cover public and private sector workers. The 48-hour strike comes as parliament prepares to vote on the latest round of austerity measures, including more tax hikes, pay cuts and job losses. There have been lightning strikes across virtually every sector of the economy, with rubbish not collected and government ministries blocked by their own workers. Government departments, businesses, offices and stores are all expected to be shut, with small business owners and shopkeepers taking part in strike action for the first time. Air traffic controllers will stage a 12-hour walk-out. Trains, buses, taxis and lorries will not be operating. Law-makers are voting on two bills on Wednesday and Thursday that include cuts to the pay and pensions of public sector workers, higher taxes and the suspension (暂停)of collective labor agreements. Greece finds itself with rising unemployment and a stalled economy, with a government debt that is 162% of its gross domestic product. The long-term bond markets have shut Greece out over fears that it can no longer meet its debt obligations. The EU and the IMF have stepped in with two rescue packages but the second has not been finalised. Meanwhile, Greece says it needs further help in installment from the first package of assisting loans agreed last year or it will run out of money to pay its bills in November. With fears the problems besetting (包围，困扰)Athens might spread to other eurozone countries with heavy debts such as Spain and Italy, EU leaders meeting this weekend are struggling to forge a plan that will protect the region from a Greek default. Measures could include propping up banks exposed to Greek debt and enlarging the eurozone's rescue fund. What does "austerity" (Para.1)mean according to the passage? A Free. B Frosty. C Tightening. D Flexible.

The strike for Wednesday and Thursday has been called by the two big unions that cover public and private sector workers. The 48-hour strike comes as parliament prepares to vote on the latest round of austerity measures, including more tax hikes, pay cuts and job losses.

There have been lightning strikes across virtually every sector of the economy, with rubbish not collected and government ministries blocked by their own workers. Government departments, businesses, offices and stores are all expected to be shut, with small business owners and shopkeepers taking part in strike action for the first time. Air traffic controllers will stage a 12-hour walk-out. Trains, buses, taxis and lorries will not be operating.

Law-makers are voting on two bills on Wednesday and Thursday that include cuts to the pay and pensions of public sector workers, higher taxes and the suspension (暂停)of collective labor agreements. Greece finds itself with rising unemployment and a stalled economy, with a government debt that is 162% of its gross domestic product. The long-term bond markets have shut Greece out over fears that it can no longer meet its debt obligations.

The EU and the IMF have stepped in with two rescue packages but the second has not been finalised. Meanwhile, Greece says it needs further help in installment from the first package of assisting loans agreed last year or it will run out of money to pay its bills in November. With fears the problems besetting (包围，困扰)Athens might spread to other eurozone countries with heavy debts such as Spain and Italy, EU leaders meeting this weekend are struggling to forge a plan that will protect the region from a Greek default. Measures could include propping up banks exposed to Greek debt and enlarging the eurozone's rescue fund.

What does "austerity" (Para.1)mean according to the passage?

A Free.

B Frosty.

C Tightening.

D Flexible.

题目解答

答案

根据文章内容，"austerity" 一词出现在第一段，描述了议会即将投票的最新一轮措施。这些措施包括增税、减薪和裁员。从上下文来看，这些措施显然是为了应对经济危机，减少政府开支，因此 "austerity" 应该是指紧缩政策。 具体解析如下： - 选项 A "Free"（自由的）：不符合上下文，因为增税、减薪和裁员都不是自由的措施。 - 选项 B "Frosty"（冷淡的）：不符合上下文，因为这个词通常用来形容人或关系，而不是经济政策。 - 选项 C "Tightening"（紧缩的）：符合上下文，因为增税、减薪和裁员都是紧缩政策的一部分。 - 选项 D "Flexible"（灵活的）：不符合上下文，因为这些措施都是严格的，而不是灵活的。 因此，正确答案是 C "Tightening"。

解析

本题考查根据上下文推断单词含义的能力。核心思路是通过分析“austerity measures”在文中的具体措施（如增税、减薪、裁员等），结合选项含义进行匹配。关键点在于理解“austerity”在经济政策中的常见用法，即指政府为应对财政危机而采取的紧缩政策。

  1. 定位上下文
    第一段明确提到“austerity measures”包括“more tax hikes, pay cuts and job losses”（增税、减薪、裁员）。这些措施均属于减少政府支出、控制财政的手段。

  2. 分析选项含义

    • A. Free（自由的）：与“增税”“减薪”等限制性措施矛盾。
    • B. Frosty（寒冷的）：通常指天气或人际关系，与经济政策无关。
    • C. Tightening（紧缩的）：符合“减少支出、控制财政”的语境，是“紧缩政策”的常见表达。
    • D. Flexible（灵活的）：与“严格措施”语境不符。

  3. 排除干扰项
    通过排除法，C选项“Tightening”最能体现“austerity measures”的核心目的。