5、      It doesn' t feel like it, but we got a raise this week. The sliding price of oil, which made OPEC decide to announce a production cut, has put money in the pockets of consumers, who worry about the world - wide recession(經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退).

      The high price of gasoline has greatly changed driving patterns, perhaps permanently "We are seeing changes in habits. " says Julian Lee from the Center for Global Energy Studies in London. People now prefer to buy small cars instead of gas - guzzling SUVs. If we see this change it becomes a much longer term issue with long - term demand destruction.

     In the short term, there' s simple math. The price slide could save drivers a great deal of money. However, because the U.S. is out of its peak summer driving season, there' s not too much of an encouragement to drive a lot more just because gas prices are down.

     Oil demand in the U.S. has dropped 10% in the few weeks, continuing a year long

trend. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Americans drove 15 billion fewer miles in August, or 5.6% less than they did the year before. DOT says it' s the largest ever year -to -year decline recorded in a single month.

      Due to falling worldwide demand, oil price dropped to its lowest level in more than a year.For months leaders of oil - rich countries have watched nervously as world oil prices have been more than 50% lower than the all - time high in July.

      All of which spells disasters for OPEC. Iran and Venezuela have pushed fellow OPEC members to make big enough cuts in production to change the plunge in prices in Vienna on Thursday for OPEC' s emergency meeting. OPEC countries' method of fixing their combined out - put has for years hugely influenced world prices, since OPEC' s 13 members account for about one - third of the world' s total oil supplies.

 

7l. According to the passage, "we got a raise dais week" because __  

     A. the consumers seldom use their cars at present

     B. we' II face financial problems in the recession

     C. the OPEC countries will buy us gasoline fro cars

     D. we' II spend much less money on gasoline for cars

72. In the writer's opinion, the reason people prefer to small ears is that __  

     A, small cars are more beautiful than SUVs

     B. SUVs will cause much more air pollution

     C. small cars cost much less on gasoline than SUVs

     D. SUYs waste too much energy and pollute the air

73. The following statements are all true except __  

     A. Americans drove about 15 billion fewer miles this year

     B. oil demand in America has been dropping for one year

     C. "DOT"" stands for the U.S. Department of Transportation

     D. more cars are on the road in summer than in other seasons

74. The underlined word "plunge" in the last paragraph most probably means　

     A. the action of pulling up              B. delaying or putting off

 C. sudden~ moving downward          D. severe financial problem

75. The OPEC countries cut the oil production so as to______  

     A. stop the decline of world economy

     B. deal with the problem of oil prices

     C. put more money into consumers' pockets

     D. help the car industry with their problems