LosAngeles:LoveforMomisnecessary,butbuyingflowersonherb...

问题详情：

Los Angeles: Love for Mom is necessary, but buying flowers on her big day may not be.

A slump in flower sales since late last year is likely to continue through Mother’s Day, another example of Americans cutting back on spending due to recession fears, which is a period of reduced trade and business activity, and increasing food and gas prices.

“If you look at what has happened on Valentine’s Day and Christmas, the market for flowers has cooled,” said Eric Beder, an analyst at Brean Murray. “Growth has slowed in the past two quarters. Mother’s Day will probably be a slow quarter, too. ”

US flower sales for Mother’s Day will fall thirteen percent this year to $2 billion, with consumers spending an average of $17. 65, according to the National Federation.

Mother’s Day, which accounts for a one-quarter of annual holiday purchases, according to the Society of American Florists, is traditionally the day when flowers are delivered to the doorsteps of many mothers. But this year, the shop-owners are concerned. Gabriel Soto, who owns a flower shop beneath an office high-rise in the Los financial district, is expecting lower sales and has ordered 30 percent fewer flowers than normal this Mother’s Day. Last month, Soto, who also operates website , closed another store in a nearby building that was headquarters to a huge company. After workers lost their jobs due to the housing crisis (危机), orders decreased.

32. The underlined word “slump” in Para. 2 probably means _______.

A. sharp decrease in price                              B. sudden fall by a large amount

C. global worry of flower stores                            D. great fear for losing jobs

33. This passage infers that Americans have ______.

A. delivered flowers to every house for mothers     B. no longer bought flowers for mothers

C. met financial problems recently           D. cut back on spending because of unemployment

34. Which would be the best title for this passage? 

A. Sorry Mom, Love You but No Flowers              B. Holiday Purchases Have a Hard Time

C. Hard Time Coming Nearer                         D. Mother’s Day and Crisis

35. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Gabriel Soto was concerned about losing his job.

B. Gabriel Soto owns a flower shop on line.

C. Gabriel Soto won’t buy flowers for his mother on Mother’s Day this year.

D. Gabriel Soto has ordered flowers this Mother’s day.

【回答】

BCAB

知识点：阅读理解

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