2017年电大 2013年06月英语四级完整版真题及答案3套.docxVIP

Part I Writing (30 minutes)Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Surviving the RecessionAmericas recession began quietly at the end of 2007. Since then it has evolved into a global crisis. Reasonable people may disagree about whom to blame. Financiers who were not as clever as they thought they were? Regulators falling asleep at work? Consumers who borrowed too much? Politicians who thoughtlessly promoted home-ownership for those who could not afford it? All are guilty; and what a mess they have created.Since 2007 America has shed 5 million jobs. More than 15% of the workforce are jobless or underemployed - roughly 25 million workers. The only industries swelling their payrolls are health care, utilities and the federal government. The value of listed shares in American firms collapsed by 57% from its peak in October 2007 to a low in March this year, though it has since bounced back somewhat. Industrial production fell by 12. 8% in the year to March, the worst slide since the Second World War. Mark Zandi, and economist at Moodys Economy, com, predicts that the recession will shrink Americas economy by 3.5% in total. For most executives, this is the worst business environment theyve ever seen.Times are so tough that even bosses are taking pay cuts. Median (中位数的) pay for chief executives of Samp;P 500 companies fell 6.8% in 2008. The overthrown business giants of Wall Street took the biggest knock, with average pay cuts of 38% and median bonuses of zero. But there was some pain for everyone; median pay for chief executives of non-financial firms in the Samp;P 500 fell by 2.7%.Nearly every business has a sad tale to tell. For example, Arne Sorenson, the president of Marriott hotels, likens the crisis to the downturn that hit his business after September 11th, 2001. When the twin towers fell, Americans stopped travelling. Marriott had its worst quarter ever, with revenues per room falling by 25%. This year, without a terrorist attack, the hot