参考答案：错

解析：[听力原文]Before Mr. Bush came to power, the federal government had a surplus. It was spending less than it received in taxes and there was even speculation that most of the national debt might eventually be repaid.

[分析]： 特定信息的找寻和判断。 根据原文，在布什就职前，联邦政府还有赢余，政府的开销少于其税收收入，甚至有人预测大部分国债最终会被偿清。由此可推测，布什当政后，情况发生了变化。题干中说布什先生最终会在任期内偿清国债的说法与原文不符，因此题干是错误的。[解题关键] 掌握表示时间的状语从句内容，如本题原文中Before Mr. Bush came to power是解题的关键。