業精於勤，事立於豫

      John Maynard Keynes used the phrase “animal spirits” in 1936 to __16__ the role confidence plays in the economy. He saw how investors and businesspeople must go with their guts in uncertain times and put their money to work if the economy is to grow and the nation to __17__ . Judging by recent surge in the stock market, animal spirits are certainly back on Wall Street. Investors, __18__ by worries a bubble may be building, have piled into equities, pushing the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index up about 60% into March. The __19__ looks to be lifting. That should give legs to the recovery and reduce the risk of a __20__ into recession next year as stepped-up business spending offsets the fading impact of the $787 billion federal stimulus plan.

文意解析：

John Maynard Keynes used the phrase “animal spirits” in 1936 to __16__ the role confidence plays in the economy.

(John Maynard Keynes 在1963年用「動物精神」這個片語去強調信心在經濟中扮演的角色。)

16、

(A) undermine 削減。

字根記憶：under(在……下) + mine(挖) → 挖墻角 → 削減。

(B) infest 擾亂。

字根記憶：in(進入) + fest(仇恨,打擊) → 進入仇恨→ 擾亂

(C) mitigate 緩和。

(D) highlight 強調。

He saw how investors and businesspeople must go with their guts in uncertain times and put their money to work if the economy is to grow and the nation to __17__ .

(他看到投資者及商人必須在不確定的時機放膽投資，讓他們的錢發揮作用，假如經濟是成長及國家繁盛。)

17、

(A)prosper 興盛。

(B)salute 致敬。

(C)tumble 跌倒。

(D)insulate 隔絕。

從前面的 the economy is to grow，即可得知國家是興盛的，選(A)。

Judging by recent surge in the stock market, animal spirits are certainly back on Wall Street. (從最近股市上揚來判斷，「動物精神」的確又回到華爾街。)

Investors, __18__ by worries a bubble may be building, have piled into equities, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index up about 60% into March. (投資者，不擔心泡沫可能高築，大量買進股票，在三月份推動標準普爾500股票指數上漲約60％。)

18、

(A)discarded 拋棄。

(B)disagreed 不同意。

(C)undeterred 未被嚇住。

(D)undetermined 不確定。

* pile into 擠進。

* equities 股票。

The _____19_____ looks to be lifting.

(陰鬱一掃而空。)

19、

(A)bloom 開花。

(B)gloom 黑暗。

(C)glee 歡樂。

(D)bleach 漂白。

由前句得知投資者不受泡沫經濟影響，所以選(C)。

That should give legs to the recovery and reduce the risk of a _____20_____ into recession next year as stepped-up business spending offsets the fading impact of the $787 billion federal stimulus plan.

(這應該有助於復甦並降低明年不景氣復萌的風險，當加快的業務支出抵消了7870億美元聯邦刺激計劃的衰退影響。)

20、

(A) regain 重新獲得。

(B) relapse 倒退。

(C) resistance 反抗。

(D) repertoire 表演項目。