英语听力精选进阶版 7327（在线收听）

美国中央银行，美联储将于下个月开始启动削减量化宽松政策，作出此举的原始是美国就业市场取得进展有所改善。美联储宣布，从明年1月起将国债的购买规模缩减100亿美元。

The Federal Reserve has been pumping money into the US economy by buying $85bn of bonds each month. From January, it will cut the figure to $75bn. And it has signalled that it will further reduce the scale of its bond buying if the economy continues to improve.

It's a small but highly significant step towards unwinding the extraordinary measures put in place to support the economy through six years of deep crisis.

The decision follows a run of data pointing to sustained if weak recovery and - the key factor - an improving jobs market.

But the Fed hasn't entirely kicked away the monetary props. It plans to keep short term lending rates at near 0% until it sees at least another 0.5% drop in the unemployment rate.

Investors responded by sending share prices higher. There was relief at the end to uncertainty over when the Fed, as has seemed inevitable for months, would start tapering off its monetary life support.

Quiz 听力测验

How much will the US government buy in bonds in January?

$75bn.

How long has the US been suffering from the economic crisis?

Six years.

True or false? The financial markets had a negative impact on the financial markets.

False. Share prices rose.

True or false? The Fed's decision to reduce its stimulus to the economy was expected.

True. According to the report, it 'seemed inevitable'.

Glossary 词汇表

pumping 大量注入、大量投入（资金）

signalled 已示意，发出信号

unwinding 推出，撤消

kicked away 踢开、踢走

props 支柱

tapering off 逐渐减少