Just as 2001 was coming to an end, the USA TODAY-CNN-Gallup Poll(盖洛普民意测验) asked Americans if they were satisfied with the way things are going in the country. Surprisingly, 70 percent said yes. 41)______
What makes the number even more remarkable is that the 70 percent satisfaction index (指数) is among the highest the Gallup Poll has measured in the nearly 30 years it has been asking the question. Moreover, the satisfaction rate has usually been lowest in times of economic difficulty. For example, in June 1992, with the economy in recession, just 14 percent said they were satisfied with the way things were going in the country. This time around, while most Americans are concerned about the economy and the accompanying threat of job losses, they’re not letting the uncertainty get them down. 42)______
43)______
Some ysts suggest that it is merely whistling past the graveyard. But other ysts say it is more a reflection of the indomitable(不屈不挠) and generous American spirit that showed itself so dramatically in the aftermath(不幸后果) of Sept. 11 (9.11). Rather than pull down the shades and hide under the bed in the face of further terrorism threats and the grim realization that the united States is not as invulnerable as most once thought, Americans poured into the streets and came together in a unity of purpose and resolve not seen since World War II. They rallied around the president and strongly supported the use of military force to combat terrorism. 44)______
Are 70 percent of the American people really satisfied with the way things are going in the country right now 45)______ Yet, there is something running through the Am0rican psyche that causes it to refuse to give in to despair. Call it . Call it foolish. Call it wlfistling past the graveyard. Whatever it is, it’s good to see. With spirit like that, we can be sure that this too will pass.
A. At the same time, Americans showed their compassion not only in their generous contributions to funds to aid the thousands of families of victims of the attacks, but also in their support for sending humanitarian aid to the people in war-torn Afghanistan and their insistence that women there be given equal rights With men.
B. Three of 4 say they expect the economy to be better a year from now.
C. Americans are not frightened by terrorism, but showed a particular mood or an emotional state characterized by vigor and animation.
D. So how can we explain this unexpected expression of optimism that appears to be sweeping through the population
E. Probably not. Terrorism threats are still with us. Unemployment is up to 5.8 percent.
F. Terrorism is unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the, intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.
G. Think about it. Less than four months after the most devastating foreign attack in the nation’s history, and with an economy still in recession, one might think most Americans would be in a sour mood and unlikely to think positively about much of anything. Yet, 7 of 10 expressed an upbeat outlook.

45

Just as 2001 was coming to an end, the USA TODAY-CNN-Gallup Poll(盖洛普民意测验) asked Americans if they were satisfied with the way things are going in the country. Surprisingly, 70 percent said yes. 41)______
What makes the number even more remarkable is that the 70 percent satisfaction index (指数) is among the highest the Gallup Poll has measured in the nearly 30 years it has been asking the question. Moreover, the satisfaction rate has usually been lowest in times of economic difficulty. For example, in June 1992, with the economy in recession, just 14 percent said they were satisfied with the way things were going in the country. This time around, while most Americans are concerned about the economy and the accompanying threat of job losses, they’re not letting the uncertainty get them down. 42)______
43)______
Some ysts suggest that it is merely whistling past the graveyard. But other ysts say it is more a reflection of the indomitable(不屈不挠) and generous American spirit that showed itself so dramatically in the aftermath(不幸后果) of Sept. 11 (9.11). Rather than pull down the shades and hide under the bed in the face of further terrorism threats and the grim realization that the united States is not as invulnerable as most once thought, Americans poured into the streets and came together in a unity of purpose and resolve not seen since World War II. They rallied around the president and strongly supported the use of military force to combat terrorism. 44)______
Are 70 percent of the American people really satisfied with the way things are going in the country right now 45)______ Yet, there is something running through the Am0rican psyche that causes it to refuse to give in to despair. Call it . Call it foolish. Call it wlfistling past the graveyard. Whatever it is, it’s good to see. With spirit like that, we can be sure that this too will pass.
A. At the same time, Americans showed their compassion not only in their generous contributions to funds to aid the thousands of families of victims of the attacks, but also in their support for sending humanitarian aid to the people in war-torn Afghanistan and their insistence that women there be given equal rights With men.
B. Three of 4 say they expect the economy to be better a year from now.
C. Americans are not frightened by terrorism, but showed a particular mood or an emotional state characterized by vigor and animation.
D. So how can we explain this unexpected expression of optimism that appears to be sweeping through the population
E. Probably not. Terrorism threats are still with us. Unemployment is up to 5.8 percent.
F. Terrorism is unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the, intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.
G. Think about it. Less than four months after the most devastating foreign attack in the nation’s history, and with an economy still in recession, one might think most Americans would be in a sour mood and unlikely to think positively about much of anything. Yet, 7 of 10 expressed an upbeat outlook.