Questão nº 12
Questão de Língua Inglesa · CESGRANRIO BB 01/2022 (nº 12)
Fed's Jefferson says inflation is U.S. central bank's most worrisome problem
Inflation is the most serious problem facing the Federal Reserve and "may take some time" to address, Fed Governor Philip Jefferson said on Tuesday in his first public remarks since joining the U.S. central bank's governing body.
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"Restoring price stability may take some time and will likely result in a period of below-trend growth," Jefferson told a conference in Atlanta, joining the current Fed consensus for continued interest rate increases to battle price pressures.
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"I want to assure you that my colleagues and I are resolute that we will bring inflation back down to 2% ... We are committed to taking the further steps necessary."
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Monetary policy that stabilizes inflation "can produce long-term, noninflationary economic expansions ... that economic history suggests is an ideal framework or environment for inclusive growth," Jefferson said. "So, it is important that we get back to that kind of economy. And that is what I think the intent of the Fed is."
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Fed Chair Jerome Powell has admitted that the central bank's intent to slow economic growth will cause economic "pain" and likely increased unemployment, but that the worst outcome would be to let inflation take root.
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In his remarks, Jefferson said there are reasons to think rigid conditions in the labor market are already easing. Indeed new data on Tuesday showed a severe decrease in job openings in August that began to bring the number of workers sought by companies more in line with the numbers of unemployed.
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That could help reduce salary growth, Jefferson said, and there were indications as well that "supply bottlenecks have, finally, begun to resolve," and could also help slow down price increases.
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But it remains uncertain how that will work, and in the meantime "inflation remains elevated, and this is the problem that concerns me most," Jefferson said. "Inflation creates economic burdens for households and businesses, and everyone feels its effects."
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Available at: https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/feds-jefferson-first-remarks-calls-inflation-most-concerning-problem-2022-10-04/. Retrieved on: Oct 4, 2022. Adapted.
In the segment of 5th paragraph "the worst outcome would be to let inflation take root", the words would be signal
- Aa certain future
- Ba definite past
- Ca hypothetical possibility (alternativa correta)
- Dan indefinite present
- Ean inevitable destiny
Resposta comentada
Gabarito Alternativa C
O verbo modal "would" é usado para falar de situações hipotéticas, imaginárias ou condicionais — ou seja, algo que poderia acontecer, mas não é um fato certo. No texto, "the worst outcome would be" expressa uma possibilidade hipotética (o pior cenário seria), não uma certeza de futuro.
- (A) Incorreta: "Would" não indica futuro certo; futuro certo seria "will be" (ex.: "it will be"). A frase fala de um cenário imaginado, não garantido.
- (B) Incorreta: "Would" não se refere a passado definido; passado definido seria "was" ou "were" (ex.: "the worst outcome was"). Aqui, o contexto é presente/futuro hipotético.
- (C) Correta: "Would be" é o modal clássico de hipótese — expressa uma consequência imaginada (se a inflação se enraizar, o pior resultado seria...). É uma possibilidade condicional, não um fato.
- (D) Incorreta: "Would" não marca presente indefinido; presente simples seria "is" (ex.: "the worst outcome is"). A ideia de "indefinido" não vem do modal, mas do contexto.
- (E) Incorreta: "Inevitável destino" seria algo como "must be" ou "is destined to be". "Would" deixa claro que é apenas uma possibilidade, não algo inevitável.
Armadilha da banca: O distrator mais tentador é a letra (A), porque o aluno vê "would" e pensa em futuro (já que "will" é futuro). Mas "would" é o passado de "will" e, em frases assim, serve para hipótese, não para futuro real. A banca explora essa confusão entre "will" (certeza) e "would" (condição/imaginário).
Fonte: CESGRANRIO BB 01/2022 Escriturário - Agente Comercial (Caderno Prova A - Gabarito 1). Reproduzida para fins de estudo.