2016年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案

2016年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第一套）PartIWriting(30minutes)(请于正式开考后半小时完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteanessay.Supposeyouhavetwooptionsupongraduation:oneistotakeajobinacompanyandtheothertogotoagraduateschool.Youaretomakeachoicebetweenthetwo.Writeanessaytoexplainthereasonsforyourchoice.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.Muchcontroversyhasbeenarousedaboutwhetherthestudentsshouldfindajoborstarttheirownbusinessaftergraduation.Takingalookaround,wecanfindthatsomegraduatesbustlearoundjobmarkets,whileotherschoosetorunashoponTMall.However,Iprefertheformerchoice.Frommyperspective,therearegoodreasonstofindajobinthefirstseveralyearsaftertheirgraduation.Firstandforemost,ifagraduateintendstoaccumulateworkingexperienceandlearnfromtheseniors,itisadvisableforhimtofindajob.Itisanundeniablefactthatthetheoreticalknowledgewillprovidethegraduateswiththeabilitytoconsiderthingscomprehensively,however,onlyundertheintegrationwithpracticecantherigidknowledgebeusefulfortheirfuturedevelopment.Inevitably,doingsomethingsmallisthepremiseofundertakingsomethinggreat.TakeJackMa,thefounderofAlibabaandtaobao,forexample.Healsofindssomejobsbeforeestablishinghisowncareer,layingasolidfoundationforhislatersuccess.Consequently,itisofgreatnecessitytofindajobaftergraduation.Ifirmlybelievethatitwillcontinuetobringaboutmorereturnstoourlifeandfuture.PartIIListeningComprehension(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreenewsreports.Attheendofeachnewsreport,youwillheartwoorthreequestions.Boththenewsreportandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1and2arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.1.A)Itwasgoingtoberenovated.B)Hecouldnolongerpaytherent.C)Itwasdangeroustolivein.D)Hehadsoldittotheroyalfamily.【答案】C2.A)Astorm.B)Astrike.C)Aforestfire.D)Aterroristattack.【答案】AQuestions3and4arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.3.A)Theylostcontactwiththeemergencydepartment.B)Theywereinjuredbysuddenlyfallingrocks.C)Theysentcallsforhelpviaaportableradio.D)Theyweretrappedinanundergroundelevator.【答案】D4.A)Theyprovidedtheminerswithfoodandwater.B)Theysentsuppliestokeeptheminerswarm.C)Theyreleasedthedetailsoftheaccident.D)Theytriedhardtorepairtheelevator.【答案】BQuestions5to7arebasedonthenewsreportyouhavejustheard.5.A)Raisepostagerates.B)Improveitsservices.C)Closesomeofitspostoffices.D)Redesigndeliveryroutes.【答案】C6.A)Closingofficesonholidays.B)Shorteningbusinesshours.C)Computerizingmailsortingprocesses.D)StoppingmaildeliveryonSaturdays.【答案】D7.A)Alotofcontroversywillarise.B)Taxpayerswillbeverypleased.C)Manypeoplewillbegintocomplain.D)Manypostofficestaffwilllosetheirjobs.【答案】DSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,youwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B)yC)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions8to11arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.8.A)Hewilllosepartofhispay.B)Hewillgothroughretraining.C)Hewillbegivenawarning.D)Hewillbekeptfrompromotion.【答案】A9.A)Heisanexperiencedpressoperator.B)Heisatrustworthyguy.C)Heisalwaysontime.D)Heisongoodtermswithhisworkmates.【答案】B10.A)Sheisatradeunionrepresentative.B)Sheisaseniormanageroftheshop.C)Sheisbetterathandlingsuchmatters.D)Sheisinchargeofpublicrelations.【答案】C11.A)Heisalwaystryingtostiruptrouble.B)Heisskilledandexperienced.C)Heisveryclosetothemanager.D)Heisalwayscomplainingaboutlowwages.【答案】AQuestions12to15arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.12.A)Open.B)Reserved.C)Selfish.D)Friendly.【答案】B13.A)Theyreadabook.B)Theytalkabouttheweather.C)Theystayquiet.D)Theychatwithfellowpassengers.【答案】C14.A)Shewasunwillingtomakefriendswithworkmates.B)Shewasneverinvitedtoacolleague’shome.C)ShewaseagertovisitanEnglishcastle.D)Shewasalwaystreatedasaforeigner.【答案】B15.A)Housesaremuchmorequiet.B)Theywanttohavemorespace.C)Theywantagardenoftheirown.D)Housesprovidemoreprivacy.【答案】DSectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreepassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearthreeorfourquestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions16to18arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.16.A)Theywillautomaticallybegivenhiringpriority.B)Theydon’thavetogothroughjobinterviews.C)Theyarelikelytogetmuchhigherpay.D)Theydon’thavemuchchoiceofjobs.【答案】A17.A)Visittheschoolcareersservice.B)Asktheirprofessorsforhelp.C)Lookatschoolbulletinboards.D)Gothroughcampusnewspapers.【答案】A18.A)Providingstudentswithinformationaboutthelibrary.B)Helpingstudentsarrangeappointmentswithlibrarians.C)Supervisingstudyspacestoensureaquietatmosphere.D)Helpingstudentsfindthebooksandjournalstheyneed.【答案】CQuestions19to21arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.19.A)Ittastesbetter.B)Itmaybesoldatahigherprice.C)Itiseasiertogrow.D)Itcanbettersurviveextremeweathers.【答案】B20.A)Itcangrowindriersoil.B)Itisimmunetovariousdiseases.C)Itwillreplacegreenteaoneday.D)Itishealthierthangreentea.【答案】D21.A)Itdoesnothaveastablemarket.B)Ithasmadeteafarmers’lifeeasier.C)Itdoesnotbringthepromisedhealthbenefits.D)Ithasbeenwellreceivedbymanyteadrinkers.【答案】AQuestions22to25arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.22.A)Theycaremoreaboutenvironment.B)Theydecoratetheirhomesthemselves.C)Theypreferuniqueobjectsofhighquality.D)Theyneeddecorationstoshowtheirstatus.【答案】C23.A)Theymadegreatcontributionstosociety.B)Theycouldonlytrytocreateatnight.C)Theywereproudoftheircreations.D)Theyfocusedonthequalityoftheirproducts.【答案】B24.A)Identifyfakecrafts.B)Makewisechoices.C)Toarousepublicinterestincrafts.D)Toboostthelocaleconomy.【答案】B25.A)Toattractforeigninvestments.B)Topreservethetraditionalculture.C)Designhandicraftsthemselves.D)Learntheimportanceofcreation.【答案】DPartIIIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Manymenandwomenhavelongboughtintotheideathatthereare“male”and“female”brains,believingthatexplainsjustabouteverydifferencebetweenthesexes.Anewstudy__26__thatbelief,questioningwhetherbrainsreallycanbedistinguishedbygender.Inthestudy,TelAvivUniversityresearchers__27__forsexdifferencesthroughouttheentirehumanbrain.27._____A)abnormalB)appliedC)brieflyD)categorizingE)challengesF)figureG)percentageH)provingI)regardlessJ)searchedK)similaritiesL)slightlyM)suggestsN)tastesO)traditionalAndwhatdidtheyfind?Notmuch.Ratherthanofferevidencefor__28__brainsas“male”or“female,”researchshowsthatbrainsfallintoawiderange,withmostpeoplefallingrightinthemiddle.28._____A)abnormalB)appliedC)brieflyD)categorizingE)challengesF)figureG)percentageH)provingI)regardlessJ)searchedK)similaritiesL)slightlyM)suggestsN)tastesO)traditionalDaphnaJoel,wholedthestudy,saidherresearchfoundthatwhiletherearesomegender-based—__29__,manydifferenttypesofbraincan’talwaysbedistinguishedbygender.29._____A)abnormalB)appliedC)brieflyD)categorizingE)challengesF)figureG)percentageH)provingI)regardlessJ)searchedK)similaritiesL)slightlyM)suggestsN)tastesO)traditionalWhilethe“average”maleand“average”femalebrainswere__30__different,youcouldn’ttellitbylookingatindividualbrainscans.Onlyasmall__31__ofpeoplehad“all-male”or“all-female”characteristics.30._____31._____A)abnormalB)appliedC)brieflyD)categorizingE)challengesF)figureG)percentageH)provingI)regardlessJ)searchedK)similaritiesL)slightlyM)suggestsN)tastesO)traditionalLarryCahill,anAmericanneuroscientist(神经科学家),saidthestudyisanimportantadditiontoagrowingbodyofresearchquestioning__32__beliefsaboutgenderandbrainfunction.Buthecautionedagainstconcludingfromthisstudythatallbrainsarethesame,__33__ofgender.32._____33._____A)abnormalB)appliedC)brieflyD)categorizingE)challengesF)figureG)percentageH)provingI)regardlessJ)searchedK)similaritiesL)slightlyM)suggestsN)tastesO)traditional“There’samountainofevidence__34__theimportanceofsexinfluencesatalllevelsofbrainfunction,MhetoldTheSeattleTimes.34._____A)abnormalB)appliedC)brieflyD)categorizingE)challengesF)figureG)percentageH)provingI)regardlessJ)searchedK)similaritiesL)slightlyM)suggestsN)tastesO)traditionalIfanything,hesaid,thestudy__35__thatgenderplaysaveryimportantroleinthebrain—“evenwhenwearenotclearexactlyhow.”35._____A)abnormalB)appliedC)brieflyD)categorizingE)challengesF)figureG)percentageH)provingI)regardlessJ)searchedK)similaritiesL)slightlyM)suggestsN)tastesO)traditionalSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.CanBurglarsJamYourWirelessSecuritySystem?A)Anyproductthatpromisestoprotectyourhomedeservescarefulexamination.Soitisn'tsurprisingthatyou’llfindplentyofstrongopinionsaboutthepotentialvulnerabilitiesofpopularhome-securitysystems.B)Themostlikelytypeofburglary(入室盗窃)byfaristheunsophisticatedcrimeofopportunity,usuallyinvolvingabrokenwindoworsomeforcedentry.AccordingtotheFBI,crimesliketheseaccountedforroughlytwo-thirdsofallhouseholdburglariesintheUSin2013.Thewidemajorityoftherestwereillegal,unforcedentriesthatresultedfromsomethinglikeawindowbeingleftopen.TheoddsofcriminalusingtechnicalmeanstobypassasecuritysystemaresosmallthattheFBIdoesn’teventrackthosestatistics.C)Oneofthemaintheoreticalhome-securityconcernsiswhetherornotagivensystemisvulnerabletobeingblockedfromworkingaltogether.Withwiredsetups,thefearisthataburglar(入室盗贼)mightbeabletoshutyoursystemdownsimplybycuttingtherightcable.Withawirelesssetup,youstickbattery-poweredsensorsuparoundyourhomethatkeepaneyeonwindows,doors,motion,andmore.Iftheydetectsomethingwrongwhilethesystemisarmed,they’lltransmitawirelessalertsignaltoabasestationthatwillthenraisethealarm.Thatapproachwilleliminatemostcord-cuttingconcerns—butwhatabouttheirwirelessequivalent,jamming?Withtherightdevicetunedtotherightfrequency,what’stostopathieffromjammingyoursetupandblockingthatalertsignalfromeverreachingthebasestation?D)Jammingconcernsarenothingnew,andthey’renotuniquetosecuritysystems.Anydevicethat’sbuilttoreceiveawirelesssignalataspecificfrequencycanbeoverwhelmedbyastrongersignalcominginonthesamefrequency.Forcomparison,let’ssayyouwantedto“jam”aconversationbetweentwopeople—allyou’dneedtodoisyellinthelistener’sear.E)Securitydevicesarerequiredtolistthefrequenciestheybroadcaston—thatmeansthatapotentialthiefcanfindwhattheyneedtoknowwithminimalGoogling.Theywill,however,needtoknowwhatsystemthey’relookingfor.Ifyouhaveasigninyouryarddeclaringwhatsetupyouuse,that’dpointthemintherightdirection,thoughatthatpoint,we’retalkingaboutahighlytargeted,semi-sophisticatedattack,andnotthesortofforced-entryattackthatmakesupthemajorityofburglaries.It’seasiertofindandacquirejammingequipmentforsomefrequenciesthanitisforothers.F)Wirelesssecurityproviderswilloftentakestepstohelpcombatthethreatofjammingattacks.SimpliSafe,winnerofourEditors’Choicedistinction,utilizesaspecialsystemthat’scapableofseparatingincidentalRFinterferencefromtargetedjammingattacks.Whenthesystemthinksit’sbeingjammed,it’llnotifyyouviapushalert(推送警报).Fromthere,it’suptoyoutosoundthealarmmanually.G)SimpliSafewassingledoutinonerecentarticleonjamming,completewithavideoshowingtheentiresystembeingeffectivelybypassedwithhandheldjammingequipment.AftertakingappropriatemeasuretocontaintheRFinterferencetoourtestlab,wetestedtheattackoutforourselves,andwereabletoverifythatitispossiblewiththerightequipment.However,wealsoverifiedthatSimpliSafe’santi-jammingsystemworks.Itcaughtusintheact,sentanalerttomysmartphone,andalsolistedourRFinterferenceonthesystem’seventlog.Theteambehindthearticleandvideoinquestionmakenomentionofthesystem,orwhetherornotitdetectedthem.H)Weliketheuniquenatureofthatsoftware.Itmeansthatathieflikelywouldn’tbeabletoGooglehowthesystemworks,thenfigureoutawayarounditEveniftheycould,SimpliSafeclaimsthatitssystemisalwaysevolving,andthatitvariesslightlyfromsystemtosystem,whichmeanstherewouldn’tbeauniversalmagicformulaforcrackingitOthersystemsalsoseemconfidentonthesubjectofjamming.TheteamatFrontpointaddressestheissueinablogonitssite,citingtheirownjamprotectionsoftwareandclaimingthattherearen’tanydocumentedcasesofasuccessfuljamattacksincethecompanybeganofferingwirelesssecuritysensorsinthe1980s.I)Jammingattacksareabsolutelypossible.Assaidbefore,withtherightequipmentandtherightknow-how,it’spossibletojamanywirelesstransmission.Buthowprobableisitthatsomeonewillsuccessfullyjamtheirwayintoyourhomeandstealyourstuff?J)Let’simaginethatyouliveinasmallhomewithawirelesssecuritysetupthatoffersafunctionalanti-jammingsystem.First,athiefisgoingtoneedtotargetyourhome,specifically.Then,he’sgoingtoneedtoknowthetechnicaldetailsofyoursystemandacquirethespecificequipmentnecessaryforjammingyourspecificsetup.Presumably,youkeepyourdoorslockedatnightandwhileyou'reaway,sothethiefwillstillneedtobreakin.Thatmeansdefeatingthelocksomehow,orbreakingawindow.He’llneedtobejammingyouatthispoint,asabrokenwindoworopeneddoorwouldnormallyreleasethealarm.So,too,wouldthemotiondetectorsinyourhome,sothethiefwillneedtocontinuejammingoncehe’sinsideandsearchingforthingstosteal.However,he’llneedtodosowithouttrippingtheanti-jammingsystem,thedetailsofwhichhealmostcertainlydoesnothaveaccessto.K)Attheendoftheday,thesekindsofsystemsareprimarilydesignedtoprotectagainstthesortofopportunisticsmash-and-grabattackthatmakesupthemajorityofburglaries.They’realsoonlyasinglelayerinwhatshouldideallybeamany-sidedapproachtosecuringyourhome,onethatincludescommonsensethingslikesoundlocksandproperexteriorlightingatnight.Nosystemisimpenetrable,andnonecanpromisetoeliminatetheworstcasecompletely.Everyoneofthemhasvulnerabilitiesthataknowledgeablethiefcouldtheoreticallyexploit.Agoodsystemisonethatkeepsthatworst-casesettingasimprobableaspossiblewhilealsoofferingstrongprotectionintheeventofaless-extraordinaryattack.36.Itispossibleforburglarstomakejammingattackswiththenecessaryequipmentandskill.【答案】I37.Interferingwithawirelesssecuritysystemissimilartointerferingwithaconversation.【答案】D38.Aburglarhastocontinuouslyjamthewirelesssecuritydevicetoavoidtriggeringthealarm,bothinsideandoutsidethehouse.【答案】J39.SimpliSafeprovidesdevicesthatareabletodistinguishincidentalradiointerferencefromtargetedjammingattacks.【答案】F40.Onlyaverysmallproportionofburglariesarecommittedbytechnicalmeans.【答案】B41.ItisdifficulttocrackSimpliSafeasitssystemkeepschanging.【答案】H42.Wirelessdeviceswilltransmitsignalssoastoactivatethealarmoncesomethingwrongisdetected.【答案】C43.Differentmeasuresshouldbetakentoprotectone’shomefromburglaryinadditiontothewirelesssecuritysystem.【答案】K44.SimpliSafe’sdevicecansendawarningtothehouseowner’scellphone.【答案】G45.Burglarscaneasilygetasecuritydevice’sfrequencybyInternetsearch.【答案】ESectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Asapersonwhowritesaboutfoodanddrinkforaliving,Icouldn’ttellyouthefirstthingaboutBillPerryorwhetherthebeershesellsarethatgreat.ButIcantellyouthatIlikethisguy.That’sbecauseheplanstobantippinginfavorofpayinghisserversanactuallivingwage.Ihatetipping.Ihateitbecauseit’sanobligationdisguisedasanoption.Ihateitforthepost-dinnermathitrequiresofme.Butmostly,IhatetippingbecauseIbelieveIwouldbeinabetterplaceifpaydecisionsregardingemployeesweresimplyleftuptotheiremployers,asisthecustominvirtuallyeveryotherindustry.Mostofyouprobablythinkthatyouhatetipping,too.Researchsuggestsotherwise.Youactuallylovetipping!Youliketofeelthatyouhaveavoiceinhowmuchmoneyyourservermakes.Nomatterhowthemathworksout,youpersistentlyviewrestaurantswithvoluntarytippingsystemsasbeingabettervalue,whichmakesitextremelydifficultforrestaurantsandbarstodoawaywiththetippingsystem.Oneargumentthatyoutendtohearalotfromthepro-tippingcrowdseemslogicalenough:theserviceisbetterwhenwaitersdependontips,presumablybecausetheyseeabenefittosuccessfullyveilingtheircontemptforyou.Well,ifthisweretrue,wewouldallbeslippingafew100-dollarbillstoourdoctorsonthewayouttheirdoors,too.Butasitturnsout,waitersseeonlyatinybumpintipswhentheydoanexceptionaljobcomparedtoapassableone.Waiters,keenobserversofhumanitythattheyare,arecatchingontothis;inonepoll,afull30%saidtheydidn’tbelievethejobtheydidhadanyimpactonthetipstheyreceived.Socomeon,folks:getonboardwithditchingtheoutdatedtipsystem.Payalittlemoreup-frontforyourbeerorburger.SupportBillPerry’spub,andanyotherbarorrestaurantthatdoesn’taskyoutododrunkenmath.46.WhatcanwelearnaboutBillPerryfromthepassage?A)Herunsapubthatservesexcellentbeer.B)Heintendstogetridofthetippingpractice.C)Hegiveshisstaffaconsiderablesumfortips.D)Helivescomfortablywithoutgettinganytips.【答案】B47.Whatisthemainreasonwhytheauthorhatestipping?A)Itsetsabadexampleforotherindustries.B)Itaddstotheburdenofordinarycustomers.C)Itforcesthecustomertocompensatethewaiter.D)Itposesagreatchallengeforcustomerstodomath.【答案】C48.Whydomanypeoplelovetippingaccordingtotheauthor?A)Theyhelpimprovethequalityoftherestaurantstheydinein.B)Theybelievewaitersdeservesuchrewardsforgoodservice.C)Theywanttopreserveawonderfultraditionoftheindustry.D)Theycanhavesomesayinhowmuchtheirserversearn.【答案】D49.Whathavesomewaiterscometorealizeaccordingtoasurvey?A)Servicequalityhaslittleeffectontipsize.B)Itisinhumannaturetotrytosaveontips.C)Tipsmakeitmoredifficulttopleasecustomers.D)Tipsbenefitthebossratherthantheemployees.【答案】A50.Whatdoestheauthorargueforinthepassage?A)Restaurantsshouldcalculatethetipsforcustomers.B)Customersshouldpaymoretipstohelpimproveservice.C)Waitersdeservebetterthanjustrelyingontipsforaliving.D)Waitersshouldbepaidbyemployersinsteadofcustomers.【答案】DPassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Inthepast,fallingoilpriceshavegivenaboosttotheworldeconomy,butrecentforecastsforglobalgrowthhavebeentoneddown,evenasoilpricessinklowerandlower.Doesthatmeanthelinkbetweenloweroilpricesandgrowthhasweakened?Someexpertssaytherearestillgoodreasonstobelievecheapoilshouldheatuptheworldeconomy.Consumershavemoremoneyintheirpocketswhenthey’repayinglessatthepump.Theyspendthatmoneyonotherthings,whichstimulatestheeconomy.ThebiggestgainsgotocountriesthatimportmostoftheiroillikeChina,Japan,andIndia.Butdoesn’ttheextramoneyinthepocketsofthosecountries,consumersmeananequallossinoil-producingcountries,cancellingoutthegains?Notnecessarily,sayseconomicresearcherSaraJohnson.“Manyoilproducersbuiltuphugereservefundswhenpriceswerehigh,sowhenpricesfalltheywilldrawontheirreservestosupportgovernmentspendingandsubsidies(补贴)fortheirconsumers.”Butnotalloilproducershavebigreserves.InVenezuela,collapsingoilpriceshavesentitseconomyintofree-fall.EconomistCarlWeinbergbelievesthenegativeeffectsofplungingoilpricesareoverwhelmingthepositiveeffectsofcheaperoil.Theimplicationisasharpdeclineinglobaltrade,whichhasplungedpartlybecauseoil-producingnationscan’taffordtoimportasmuchastheyusedto.SaraJohnsonacknowledgesthattheglobaleconomicbenefitfromafallinoilpricestodayislikelylowerthanitwasinthepast.Onereasonisthatmorecountriesarebigoilproducersnow,sothenationssufferingfromthepricesdropaccountforalargershareoftheglobaleconomy.Consumers,intheU.S.atleast,areactingcautiouslywiththesavingsthey’regettingatthegaspump,asthememoryoftherecentgreatrecessionisstillfreshintheirmind.Andanumberofoil-producingcountriesaretrimmingtheirgasolinesubsidiesandra