2023届高考英语三轮复习冲刺押题外刊阅读理解训练 (10)

2023届高考英语三轮复习·冲刺押题 外刊阅读理解训练10 ——改编自Gold optimizes reserves portfolio 【文章】 China's central bank has purchased almost 25 metric tons of gold in February, marking the fourth consecutive month of increase in its purchases. According to experts, this move is crucial as it will help optimize the country's international reserves portfolio. As one of the world's leading economies, China currently holds the seventh-largest gold reserve globally. By the end of February, the country's total gold reserves rose to about 2,050.34 tons, accounting for approximately 3.7 percent of the global total. Contrarily, the US and Germany hold more significant amounts of gold as they have 8,133.5 tons and 3,355.1 tons respectively. With gold being widely considered as a safe-haven asset, central banks tend to prefer gold as it is expected to hold its value through difficult economic times. Unlike other types of currencies, gold does not rely on any issuer or government and can be held in physical form for prolonged periods. Moreover, gold helps central banks to diversify their assets away from those dependent on the US dollar, such as US Treasury bonds. Given that the US dollar has shown some weakened signs recently, it appears evident that gold will remain an excellent hedge option against the potential decline in the greenback. In conclusion, China's recent purchase of gold is an attempt by the central bank to diversify its reserve portfolio and manage its risks better. Experts see this move as significant and emphasize the importance of countries strengthening their reserve allocations by including gold and other safe-haven assets for economic stability and balance. 【重点词汇&词组】 1. increase - [ɪnˈkriːs] - v. 增加，提高 2. optimize - [ˈɒptɪmaɪz] - v. 优化 3. country - [ˈkʌntri] - n. 国家，乡村 4. international reserves - [ˌɪntəˈnæʃnəl rɪˈzɜːrvz] - phr. 国际储备金 5. portfolio - [pɔːtˈfəʊliəʊ] - n. 投资组合 6. world's leading economies - [wɜːldz liːdɪŋ iːˈkɒnəmi] - phr. 世界领先经济体 7. seventh-largest - [ˈsevnθ ˈleɪ