大学英语四级阅读Section C讲解与分析【3】

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

【46】The Urbanization — migration away from the suburbs to the city center — will be the biggest real estate trend in 2015, according to a new report.

The report says America’s urbanization will continue to be the most significant issue affecting the industry, as cities across the country imitate the walkability and transit-oriented development making cities like New York and San Francisco so successful.

【47】As smaller cities copy the model of these “24-hour cities，’’ more affordable versions of these places will be created. The report refers to this as the coming of the “18-hour city，”，and uses the term to refer to cities like Houston, Austin, Charlotte, and Nashville, which are “positioning themselves as highly competitive, in terms of livability, employment offerings, and recreational and cultural facilities.”

【48】Another trend that looks significant in 2015 is that America’s largest population group, Millennials (千禧一代)，will continue to put off buying a house. Apartments will retain their appeal for a while for Millennials, haunted by what happened to home-owning parents.

This trend will continue into the 2020s, the report projects. After that, survey respondents disagree over whether this generation will follow in their parents’ footsteps, moving to the suburbs to raise families, or will choose to remain in the city center.

【49】Another issue affecting real estate in the coming year will be America’s failing infrastructure. Most roads, bridges, transit, water systems, the electric grid, and communications networks were installed 50 to 100 years ago, and they are largely taken for granted until they fail.

The report’s writers state that America’s failure to invest in infrastructure impacts not only the health of the real-estate market, but also our ability to remain globally competitive.

Apart from the specific trends highlighted above, which cause some investors to worry, the report portrays an overall optimism borne by the recent healthy real-estate “upcycle” and improving economy. 【50】Seventy-four percent of the respondents surveyed report a “good to excellent” expectation of real-estate profitability in 2015. While excessive optimism can promote bad investment patterns, resulting in a real- estate “bubble,” the report’s writers downplay that potential outcome in that it has not yet occurred.

【杀掉拦路虎】

1. real estate [riəl isˈteit]

n.不动产，土地；房地产；物业不动产；房地契

2. imitate [ˈimiteit]

vt. 模仿，效仿;仿造，伪造

3. livability [ˌlɪvə'bɪlɪtɪ]

n.（家禽、牲畜的）存活率，（住宅、环境的）适于居住性

4. recreational [ˌrekriˈeɪʃənl]

adj.消遣的；娱乐的

5. highlighted ['haɪlaɪtɪd]

adj.突出的

v.强调( highlight的过去式和过去分词 )；将（文本的某部份）用彩笔做标记；将（计算机屏幕的某区域）增强亮度；使醒目

6. portray [pɔ:ˈtreɪ]

vt.画像；描述；描绘；描画

7. borne [bɔ:n]

adj.（用于复合词）由…携带的，由…运载的

v.需要( bear的过去分词 )；具有；推动；传达

8. profitability [ˌprɒfɪtə'bɪlətɪ]

n.获利（状况），盈利（情况）；[经]收益性；利益率；有利

9. excessive [ikˈsesiv]

adj. 过度的，极度的;过分的;过多的;过逾

10. bubble [ˈbʌbl]

n. 泡，水泡;冒泡，起泡;泡影，妄想;（欲表达的）一点感情;

vt.& vi. 起泡，使冒气泡;

vi. 使冒泡，发出冒泡的声音;洋溢着（某种感情）;滔滔不绝地讲;兴奋，欢闹

11. downplay [ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ]

vt.贬低，轻视；不予重视；将…轻描淡写

12. outcome [ˈautkʌm]

n. 结果;成果;出路

13. reluctant [riˈlʌktənt]

adj. 不情愿的，勉强的;顽抗的;难处理的;厌恶的

14. hinder [ˈhɪndə(r)]

vt.& vi.阻碍，妨碍；成为阻碍

adj.后面的，后方的