四、閱讀測驗【請依照段落上下文意，選出最適當的答案】        Feeling squeezed by rising prices and a higher cost of living? If you share such a sentiment, you should findplenty company. In fact, we are experiencing a tide of inflations, and the economic challenge is global in scale.Private investors are careful hoping to figure out the best way forward. Professionals and economists are analyzingdata trying to predict whether a recession will follow. Going against conventional wisdom, the market dynamics inmajor countries have made it challenging for professionals to read the economic tea leaves.        With the current inflation showing no signs of slowing down, a decline in economic activity seems quite likely.That is, the rising costs of goods and services are negatively affecting consumers’ abilities to buy things. A decreasein consumer spending may shrink the market demand and slow economic growth, which possibly leads to fewerjobs and a decline in employment, signs of recession. However, in reality, a strong labor market, with more jobscreated and more workers hired at higher wages, and no decrease in consumer spending have directed economists tomake a more positive forecast on recession.        Indeed, it is hard to interpret the conflicting signals in the ongoing foggy market conditions, a result of severalcomplex factors. The current inflation was driven by a surge in demand of goods as countries gradually emergedfrom lockdowns. On the other hand, there had been a supply shortage caused by delays and disruptions in supplychain brought by COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in costs was further fueled by rising oil prices resulting fromRussians’ invasion of Ukraine. Finally, humankind is confronted with yet another blow, global food insecurity, dueto the pandemic, war in Ukraine, and the shocking climate change, which may cause inflation to skyrocket evenhigher.
【題組】31. Which of the following might NOT explain why “tide” is used in the first paragraph to describe the currentinflation?
(A) It’s massive.
(B) It’s powerful.
(C) It’s momentary.
(D) It’s rising in strength.