① Will the European Union make it? The question would have sounded strange not long ago. Now even the project’s greatest cheerleaders talk of a continent facing a “Bermuda triangle” of debt, population decline and lower growth.
② As well as those chronic problems, the EU faces an acute crisis in its economic core, the 16 countries that use the single currency. Markets have lost faith that the euro zone’s economies, weaker or stronger, will one day converge thanks to the discipline of sharing a single currency, which denies uncompetitive members the quick fix of devaluation.
③ Yet the debate about how to save Europe’s single currency from disintegration is stuck. It is stuck because the euro zone’s dominant powers, France and Germany, agree on the need for greater harmonisation within the euro zone, but disagree about what to harmonise.
④ Germany thinks the euro must be saved by stricter rules on borrowing, spending and competitiveness, backed by quasi-automatic sanctions for governments that do not obey. These might include threats to freeze EU funds for poorer regions and EU mega-projects, and even the suspension of a country’s voting rights in EU ministerial councils. It insists that economic co-ordination should involve all 27 members of the EU club, among whom there is a small majority for free-market liberalism and economic rigour; in the inner core alone, Germany fears, a small majority favour French interference.
⑤ A “southern” camp headed by France wants something different: “European economic government” within an inner core of euro-zone members. Translated, that means politicians intervening in monetary policy and a system of redistribution from richer to poorer members, via cheaper borrowing for governments through common Eurobonds or complete fiscal transfers. Finally, figures close to the Franch government have murmured, euro-zone members should agree to some fiscal and social harmonisation: e.g., curbing competition in corporate-tax rates or labour costs.
⑥ It is too soon to write off the EU. It remains the world’s largest trading block. At its best, the European project is remarkably liberal: built around a single market of 27 rich and poor countries, its internal borders are far more open to goods, capital and labour than any comparable trading area. It is an ambitious attempt to blunt the sharpest edges of globalisation, and make capitalism benign.
1.1.The EU is faced with so many problems that ________.
A it has more or less lost faith in markets
B even its supporters begin to feel concerned
C some of its member countries plan to abandon euro
D it intends to deny the possibility of devaluation
解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据题干信息定位至首段③句。句中Now even the project’s greatest cheerleaders talk of a continent facing...（the project指The EU，a continent指欧洲大陆）说明当前局势：连最有力的支持者都在谈论大陆面临的这些问题，即欧盟问题多到连支持者都难以保持淡定。故选B。
2.2.The debate over the EU’s single currency is stuck because the dominant powers ________.
A are competing for the leading position
B are busy handling their own crises
C fail to reach an agreement on harmonisation
D disagree on the steps towards disintegration
解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据题干关键信息the EU’s single currency is stuck because the... dominant powers...定位至原文第三段②句。 原文利用agree on..., but disagree about...形式表明，有关拯救欧元的讨论止步不前的原因是德法两大主导国虽然在“欧盟内部需要加强统一”问题上观点一致，但是对于“具体哪些内容应该统一”存在分歧，因此还是在欧盟内部统一协调问题上未能达成一致。故选C。
3.3.To solve the euro problem, Germany proposed that ________.
A EU funds for poor regions be increased
B stricter regulations be imposed
C only core members be involved in economic co-ordination
D voting rights of the EU members be guaranteed
解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据题干定位至原文第四段。①句即指出，德国认为必须在几大方面施行更严格的措施才能拯救欧元。故选B。
4.4.The French proposal of handling the crisis implies that ________.
A poor countries are more likely to get funds
B strict monetary policy will be applied to poor countries
C loans will be readily available to rich countries
D rich countries will basically control Eurobonds
解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据题干The French proposal of...定位至第五段。该段②句解释了法国建议成立的“欧36洲经济政府”含：politicians intervening in...and a system of redistribution from richer to poorer members, via cheaper borrowing...（通过低息借贷，实现政府人士对……以及贫富国收入再分配体系的干预）表明法国倡导欧盟贫富国发展均衡化，暗示贫困国家更有可能获得欧盟资金。故选A。
5.5.Regarding the future of the EU, the author seems to feel ________.
A pessimistic
B desperate
C conceited
D hopeful
解析：选D。
D观点态度题。题干考查作者观点，末段首句It is too soon to write off the EU表明作者对欧盟持肯定乐观的态度，认为欧盟未来仍然充满希望。故选D。
