12. The passage of the luxury tax bill in Taiwan is to address claims that the country’s tax system encourages real estate speculation and ___________ spending.
(A) ostentatious
(B) frugal
(C) parsimonious
(D) provident

speculation            同義詞thinking, thought, reflection, meditation

n.[U][C]

1.思索; 沈思; 推測[(+about/on/upon)]

There has been a great deal of speculation about the Prime Minister\'s resignation.最近有關首相辭職的臆測頗多。

2.投機; 投機買賣[(+in)]

His speculations in stocks led to his suicide.

他在股票上做投機買賣致使他自殺。

speculate       同義詞guess, theorize, conjecture, gamble

vi. 不及物動詞

1.思索; 沈思; 推測[(+on/upon/about)]

She speculated about her friend\'s motives.她猜測她朋友的動機。

2.投機; 做投機買賣[(+in)]

He speculated successfully in mining shares.他做礦業股票投機獲得成功。

vt. 及物動詞

1.推測, 推斷[Y][+that]

He was speculating that this might be his last chance.他推測這可能是他的最後一次機會了。

frugal       同義詞economical, thrifty, saving, prudent

反義詞wasteful

a. 形容詞

1.節約的, 儉樸的[(+of)]

She\'s always frugal of her money.她一直節省用錢。

She is a frugal housekeeper.她勤儉持家。

2.花錢少的, 廉價的

We had a frugal lunch.我們中午吃了一頓便飯。

parsimoniousa. 形容詞

1.吝嗇的; 過於儉省的

2.質量差的

provident                a. 形容詞

1.有先見之明的; 深謀遠慮的

               2節儉的

frugal. adj. 節約的

parsimonious adj   吝嗇的；過於儉省的

provident. adj. 節儉的