8[阅读题,10分] It seems like just yesterday. In 2005 the global economy was booming. In the United States, for example, business profits were soaring, jobs were plentiful, and home ownership was at any all-time high. The stock market reached unprecedented highs, pension plans were burgeoning, and new business opportunities were plentiful. Fast-forward just four short years to 2009, and things looked a lot different. Business profits were down, hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost and unemployment claims soared, and mortgage foreclosures were the order of the day. The stock market plummeted, pension plans went broke, and it seemed like no one wanted to start a new business. What happened in this short period of time? Economists call it the business cycle. Historically, our business has followed long periods of prosperity, with periods of cutbacks and retreats. And that’s where we were in 2009. During extended periods of prosperity, people sometimes think the good times will last forever. They continue to bid up stock prices, for instance, far beyond rational value. They also take on too much debt, save too little money, and spend beyond their means. But things have a way of correcting themselves, and that’s what happened beginning in 2008. So what does the future hold? Well, while no one has a real crystal ball, most experts agree that the bad times will run their course, and then things will start looking up again. It may take another year, or it may take five. But one day soon, profits will again start to surge, businesses will embark on ambitious hiring plans, the stock market will surpass all previous highs, and business opportunities will again be plentiful. Until then though, managers have to focus on following core business principles and do their best to steer their organizations through today’s turbulence. 1.（ ）In the last paragraph, what do most experts mean by agreeing that the bad times will run their course? . A. The bad times will last forever. B. The bad times will end eventually. C. The bad times brings hopes to people. D. The bad times are the driving force of the economy 2.（ ） What is this passage about? . A. The economy of the United States B. The American Stock market C. The business cycle D. The global economy. 3.（ ）What does the expression “looking up” in the sentence “…, most experts agree that the bad times will run their course, and then things will start looking up again.” of the last paragraph mean? A. worsening B. deteriorating C. improving D. increasing 4.（ ）The writer’s attitude toward the future is . A. pessimistic B. optimistic C. negative D. ambitious 5.（ ）In the sentence “So what does the future hold? Well, while no one has a real crystal ball, ...”, “no one has a real crystal ball” means that . A. no one can get a real crystal ball in the future. B. a real crystal ball is so beautiful that everyone loves it. C. no one can predict exactly what will happen in the future. D. no one has confidence in the future.

---