在考研英语中“silver linings” 这一表达考到了两次，分别在2004年阅读第三篇和英语二2012年阅读第四篇，并且两次都出了2分的题目。那么究竟是什么让这一表达如此重要，能被命题人相中两次?接下来我们家一起来看看它的意义及考点。
2004 Text 3
54. Why can many people see “silver linings” to the economic showdown?
[A] They would benefit in certain ways.
[B] The stock market shows signs of recovery.
[C] Such a slowdown usually precedes a boom.(A)
[D] The purchasing power would be enhanced.
Many folks see silver linings to this slowdown. Potential home buyers would cheer for lower interest rates. Employers wouldn’t mind a little fewer bubbles in the job market. Many consumers seem to have been influenced by stock-market swings, which investors now view as a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom. Diners might see an upside, too. Getting a table at Manhattan’s hot new Alain Ducasse restaurant used to be impossible. Not anymore. For that, Greenspan & Co. may still be worth toasting.
通过文中的“cheer for lower interest rates, wouldn’t mind, a necessary ingredient to a sustained boom, be worth toasting”可知“silver linings”的感情色彩为褒义，意思是“希望，好的一方面”。
接下来看看题目解析吧!
【翻译】
54. 为什么许多人在经济衰退中看到了“一丝希望”?
[A]他们在某些方面获得好处。
[B]股票市场显现了复苏的迹象。
[C]经济繁荣之前通常会出现经济的衰退。
[D]购买力将会提高。
许多人从经济衰退中看到了希望。潜在的住房购买者为低利率欢呼。雇主们对就业市场少了些泡沫也并不在意。许多消费者似乎受到股市波动的影响，而这些波动在今天的投资者看来是经济持续繁荣的必然因素。就餐者的人数也会上升的。以前在曼哈顿新开张的Alain Ducasse 餐馆订个座是不可能的，现在不是这样了(现在可以订到)。格林斯潘及公司还是值得为此而庆贺的。
【题目解析】
通过“silver linings”可精准定位答题范围，依据后文的内容可知,购房者享受低利率，雇主们不在意就业市场泡沫减少，投资者看到股市波动的好处，就餐者也从中获益。所有这些说明人们在某些方面获益,从而看到了走出经济困境的希望。故A为正确答案。B项与末段中的stock-market swings(股市波动)不符。C项只是投资者的观点，过于片面。D项，依据原文“以前在曼哈顿新开张的Alain Ducasse 餐馆订个座是不可能的，现在不是这样了(现在可以订到)。”，意思是有些人没钱了，不出去吃了，购买力应该是下降的;选项与原文表达相反。
英语二2012 Text 4
36. By saying “to find silver linings” (Para.2) the author suggest that the jobless try to ___.
[A] seek subsidies from the government
[B] make profits from the troubled economy
[C] explore reasons for the unemployment
[D] look on the bright side of the recession
No one tries harder than the jobless to find silver linings in this national economic disaster. Many said that unemployment, while extremely painful, had improved them in some ways; they had become less materialistic and more financially prudent; they were more aware of the struggles of others. In limited respects, perhaps the recession will leave society better off. At the very least, it has awoken us from our national fever dream of easy riches and bigger houses, and put a necessary end to an era of reckless personal spending.
【翻译】
36. 通过说“寻找一线希望”，作者意在表明失业者试图_____。
[A]向政府请求补助金
[B]从不利的经济中获利
[C]探索失业的原因
[D]看到经济大萧条的积极面
在这场全国性的经济灾难中，没有人比失业者更努力地在寻找一线希望。许多人说，尽管失业极其痛苦，但是它以某些方式使人进步;自己变得不再那么贪图物质享乐，而且在经济问题上更加审慎;自己比过去更能体会到别人的艰辛。在有限的几个方面，也许大萧条将使得整个社会变得更好。至少它将我们从“一夜暴富和豪宅”的民族热梦中唤醒，并且给挥金如土的个人消费时代画上了一个必要的句号。
【题目解析】
通过题干中to find silver linings精准定位，②句句首many代指失业者，指出失业者认为尽管失业本身很痛苦,但它以某些方式让人进步(had improved them)，随后举出几个例子。可见失业者以积极视角看待经济萧条，因此[D]选项正确。
[A]但原文并未提及失业者常常寻求政府帮助;[B]将原文②句中个别字词materialistic, financially造成选项中的“获利”这一含义; [C]借原文②句中“失业者在价值观和消费观上有所进步”设障，利用其进步的方面反推失业者曾经存在问题，从而主观臆断出“失业者为自身失业找原因”。
