2021年英语专业四级八级考试具体情况

听力原文： Now European finance ministers are expected to reprimand the Irish government today after they meet in Brussels. They've been alarmed by December's budget in the Irish Republic which cut taxes and increased government spending. The other European countries fear this will stoke up inflation and undermine the stability of the Euro, the single currency.

Finance ministers from the European Unions 15 states are holding their regular monthly meeting in Brussels. They've been given the tricky task of handing out some public criticism to the government of the country with the most successful economy, the Irish Republic. In the last five years Ireland has boomed growing by an average eight percent a year, unemployment has reached its lowest level for 20 years and commodity prices in Dublin became more expensive than in London.

Why do other European countries criticize Ireland?

A．They worry that the Irish Republic's budget plan will undermine the stability of European Unions.

B．EU countries fear that Irish Republic's finance plan will cause inflation.

C．Other countries will have to cut taxes.

D．Other EU countries must increase government spending, too.

According to Charles, people send messages via facsimile because ______.

A．it is cheaper and faster than ordinary mail

B．it can send things that could not be expressed by telex

C．it is faster and not much more expensive than mail

D．the Royal Mail could not reach places abroad

Charles thinks that nowadays running a small shop becomes increasingly difficult ______.

A．so his shop will surely go bankrupt

B．but his shop will surely make good money

C．and the only way to save his shop is to change the government

D．because it's hard to keep up with the rising cost

The author of "Auld Lang Sync" Robert Burns was a great ______folk poet.

A．English

B．Scottish

C．Welsh

D．Irish