Levers still to pull: China's economy
① President Donald Trump's threat of tariffs looms ever larger over China.
② But data today will show that the world's second-biggest economy is in good shape on the eve of what could be a protracted trade war.
③ Inflation numbers for April are likely to have remained low and stable, giving the central bank scope for delivering a monetary boost if tensions with America cut into growth.
④ For now, that is not needed.
⑤ Exports have remained resilient.
⑥ And numbers next week will point to robust growth in retail sales and factory output.
⑦ Still, China's leaders are not taking any chances.
⑧ Liu He, a senior economic official, will visit Washington next week to continue talks that began earlier this month in Beijing; competition between the two powers is only heating up.
⑨ China could survive a trade brawl with America.
⑩ But averting one would be even better.
▍生词好句
lever /ˈliːvə/: n. 施压的手段；杠杆；控制杆
tariff /ˈtarɪf/: n. 关税
loom /luːm/: vi.（威胁性的人/事物）逐渐逼近
be in good shape/condition: 状况良好
on the eve of /iːv/: 在……前夜
protract /prəˈtrakt/: vt. 拖长；拉长……的时间
protracted /prəˈtraktɪd/: adj. 旷日持久的；拖延的
inflation /ɪnˈfleɪʃ(ə)n/: n. 通货膨胀
monetary /ˈmʌnɪt(ə)ri/: adj. 货币的
cut into: 减少
resilient /rɪˈzɪlɪənt/: adj. 有弹性的（复原能力很强的）
take chances: 冒险
brawl /brɔːl/: n./vi. 斗殴；打架
avert /əˈvəːt/: vt. 防止
▍补充
1. Archimedes
"Give me a lever long enough, and a fulcrum on which to place it and I shall move the world."
2. ever
His performance in the class grows ever more impressive.
The nuclear war is an ever-present threat.
