Slowdown vs. slowness

[Laura Juanola]

Test No. incompl/advan-10 "Finance (2)", question 5

The reason for the ......... in the economy is because there is a great deal of uncertainty at the moment.

(a) slowness
(b) slowly
(c) slowdown
(d) slow

Test No. incompl/advan-10 "Finance (2)", answer 5

The reason for the slowdown in the economy is because there is a great deal of uncertainty at the moment.

Correct answer: (c) slowdown

Your answer was: incorrect
The reason for the slowness in the economy is because there is a great deal of uncertainty at the moment.
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What does i t mean slowdown and why is not correct slowness? Thank You

[Torsten]

Hi Laura,

Thanks for your interesting question. A slowdown describes a process and that's what's needed here because the economy is always developing and growing. Sometimes the growth is higher and sometimes slower.
The word slowness describes a quality - that of being slow.
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