阅读理解。 In Western countries people have been using the installment plan since
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| 阅读理解。 |
In Western countries people have been using the installment plan since the first half of the twentieth
century. Today, a large number of families in Great Britain buy furniture, household goods and cars by
installments. In the U. S., the figure is much higher than in Great Britain, and people there spend over 10
percent of their income on the installment plan.
The price of an article bought on installments is always higher than the price that would be paid by cash.
There is a charge for interest. The buyer pays one quarter or one third of the price as a down payment when
the goods are delivered to him. He then makes regular payments, weekly or monthly, until the full price is paid
up. The legal ownership of the goods remains with the seller until the final payment has been made.
Installment buying has advantages and disadvantages. It can help couples with small incomes to furnish
their homes and start housekeeping. It increases the demand for goods, and in this way helps business and
employment. There is, however, the danger that when business is bad, installment buying may end suddenly,
making business much worse. This may result in a great increase in unemployment. If the people on the
installment plan lose their jobs, they will probably not be able to make their payments. If great numbers of
people are not able to pay their installment debts there is a possibility that businessmen cannot collect their
debts and will therefore lose money. If businessmen lose money or fail to make a satisfactory profit, it
becomes more likely to have a depression. This is why, in some countries, the government controls the
installment plan by fixing the amount of the down payment and installments to discourage people from
buying more than they can pay for on the installment plan. |
| 1. Which of the following is NOT true about the installment plan? |
| [ ] |
A. A lot of British families use the installment plan.
B. More than 10 percent American families buy things on installments.
C. Americans depend more on installment than British people do.
D. Americans spend one tenth of their income on installment buying. |
| 2. Goods bought on installments are more expensive than goods bought by cash because _____. |
| [ ] |
A. the buyer has to pay extra money as interest
B. the delivery of the goods charges extra money
C. the buyer has to pay a down payment
D. the service offered by installment plan charged extra money |
| 3. What will happen to a buyer if he fails to make the full payment for an item bought on installments? |
| [ ] |
A. He might lose his job.
B. He will stop owning the item he has bought.
C. He will have to sell what he has bought.
D. He will go into debt. |
| 4. The advantage of installment buying might include all the following EXCEPT that _____. |
| [ ] |
A. purchasing power is strengthened
B. employment might be increased
C. people develop a good habit of saving money
D. young couples are able to furnish their homes |
| 5. In some countries, the governments control the installment plan to _____. |
| [ ] |
A. increase employment
B. avoid depressions
C. ensure that businesses make good profits
D. ensure that people can pay for what hey buy |
答案
| 1-5: BABCB |
举一反三
| 阅读理解。 |
Economics has long been known as an unpleasant science. But is any economist so dull as to criticize
Christmas? At first glance, the holiday season in western economies seems a treat for those who are concerned
with such things as GDP growth. After all, everyone is spending; in America, sellers make 25 % of their yearly
sales and 60 % of their profits between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even so, economists find something to
worry about in the nature of the purchases being made.
Much of the holiday spending is on gifts for others. At the simplest level, giving gifts involves the giver"s
thinking of something that the receiver would like-he tries to guess her preferences, as economists say-and
then buying the gift and delivering it. Yet this guessing of preferences is often done badly. Every year, ties go
unworn and books unread. And even if a gift is enjoyed, it may not be what the receiver would have bought
if they had spent the money themselves.
Interested in this mismatch between wants and gifts, in 1993 Joel Waldfogel, then an economist at Yale
University, attempted to estimate the disparity (差距) in dollar terms. He asked students two questions at the
end of a holiday season: first, estimate the total amount paid (by the givers) for all the holiday gifts you received;
second, apart from the emotional value of the items, if you did not have them, how much would you be willing
to pay to get them? His results were unpleasant: on average, a gift was valued by the receiver well below the
price paid by the giver.
The most conservative (保守的) estimate put the average receiver"s valuation at 90% of the buying price.
The missing 10% is what economists call a deadweight loss; a waste of resources that could be avoided
without making anyone poorer. In other words, if the giver gave the cash value of the purchase instead of the
gift itself, the receiver could then buy what she really wants and be better off for no extra cost. It suggests
that in America, where givers spend $40 billion on Christmas gifts, $ 4 billion is being lost annually in the
process of gift giving. Add in birthdays, weddings and non Christian occasions, and the figure would balloon.
So should economists call for an end to gift giving, or at least press for money to become the gift of choice? |
| 1. Why do some people regard the holiday season in western economies a treat? |
| [ ] |
A. Because the economic situation in US has been depressing.
B. Because American sellers make a quarter of their yearly sales through holiday season.
C. Because holiday spending can speed up GDP growth.
D. Because sellers can make as much profit as 60 % over holiday season. |
| 2. What"s the main idea for the second paragraph? |
| [ ] |
A. In many cases the gifts cannot meet the receivers" needs.
B. The purchases made over holiday season are actually a waste of money.
C. It"s really not easy to guess the others" preferences.
D. Much of the holiday spending is on gifts for others. |
| 3. The purpose of Joel Waldfogel"s study is to _____. |
| [ ] |
A. prove the mismatch between wants and gifts
B. estimate the disparity between wants and gifts in economic terms
C. spark new ideas of economic studies on holiday spending
D. discover the exact cost of holiday spending on gift giving |
| 4. Economists think of the misusing 10% of holiday spending as a deadweight loss because _____. |
| [ ] |
A. the cash value of the purchase is lower than the buying price
B. it is actually a waste of resources in economic terms
C. with the money the receivers can be better off for no extra cost
D. it makes many people even poorer for spending more on unwanted gifts |
| 5. According to the passage altogether how much money is wasted every year on gift giving? |
| [ ] |
A. About $4 billion.
B. About 10% of the total value.
C. About $40 billion.
D. Much more than $4 billion. |
语法填空。
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填人一个适当的词或使用
括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在标号为1-10的相应位置上。 |
Leaders of the European Union say they will help Greece as it struggles under a mountain of debt. They
promise to take action, 1______ needed, "to maintain financial stability in the euro (欧元) area as a whole."
But the leaders did not announce any 2______ (detail) plan for Greece after meeting Thursday in Brussels.
they said that was 3______ Greece has not requested any financial support. European Commission President
said this means the government believes 4______ does not need the support.
Businessmen had a mixed reaction 5______ the statements fromBrussels. Worries over Greek debt have
pushed the euro to its 6______ (low) value in months against the dollar. European Union finance ministers
are expected to talk about Greece when they meet in the Belgian capital next week.
Sixteen of 7______ twenty-seven nations in the European Union use the euro as their currency. Now,
the stronger members 8______ (seek) ways to help the weaker ones.
European Union rules limit the choices for a rescue. The European Central Bank and national central banks
are not permitted to aid members by purchasing their debt. European officials hope to avoid the economic
disasters 9______ could become even worse if Greece fails 10______ (pay) its debt. This year Greece"s debt
could reach 120% of its GDP. |
| 阅读理解。 |
Even as Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda wrapped up a tired appearance before (Jongress, the head of the
world"s largest automaker wasn"t leaving his problems behind.
Toyota faces a criminal investigation by federal lawyers in New York. The company is now being
investigated. Its US dealerships in difficulty now are facing repairs to potentially millions of customer
cars that have been recalled. The company is offering customers money back for rental cars and other
expenses.
Its lawyers are busy preparing to cope with lawsuits. A new hearing will be conducted. And the cost
to Toyota"s reputation is only now starting.
Despite back-to-back hearings this week, left to be said were a better explanation for slow actions to
deal with the faults and believable promises that the problems that led to sudden, unintended accelerations
will be fixed.
Toyoda said those changes were being made nearly around the clock, but during three hours of often
tense questions and answers he repeated that there was no link to the vehicle"s electronic systems.
Many drivers making complaints against Toyota and the government say their acceleration problems
had nothing to do with floor mat interference (油门踏板故障) or sticky gas pedals (刹车). Outside experts
have suggested electronic problems.
House lawmakers expressed serious criticism on Toyoda, the grandson of the company"s founder.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking records on Toyota"s recalls
and is conducting its own review on whether electronics were behind the car faults. NHTSA also continues
to look into steering complaints from drivers of the popular Corolla model.
Toyota has recalled 8. 5 million cars, more than 6 million of them in the United States.
It may be a while before car buyers believe that Toyota really makes safe cars.
Toyota"s January sales already fell 16 percent even as most other automakers jumped back from last
year"s bad results. Analyst Koji Endo of Advanced Research Japan in Tokyo said he expects February sales,
due out next week, to be down 30 percent t0 40. Toyota"s sales problem could continue beyond that.
It will take some time to feel the full effect of this, he said. |
| 1. The best title for this passage is _____. |
| [ ] |
A. Toyota is in trouble
B. Toyota is under hearing
C. Toyota is finished
D. Toyota is still running |
| 2. What is the purpose of the hearing? |
| [ ] |
A. America hopes that Toyota apologizes to the US customers.
B. America wants to get Toyota out of the US market.
C. America wants to help Toyota out of difficulty.
D. America hopes that Toyota admits their cars have electronic system problem. |
| 3. What can we infer from the passage? |
| [ ] |
A. Toyota provides very good post sale service.
B. Toyota"s biggest market is in the United States.
C. Toyota will be closed soon.
D. Toyota"s dealership in the US will all be closed. |
| 4. Why does Toyota recall cars and offer customers money back for rental cars and other expenses? |
| [ ] |
A. It tries to avoid the maximum damages to the company.
B. It is a big company and has means to fix every problem.
C. It"s part of post service.
D. It"s a way to compete in auto market. |
| 5. The last sentence of this passage indicates _____. |
| [ ] |
A. Analyst Koji Endo is fully confident about Toyota
B. Toyota could meet a worse situation
C. Toyota would get out of trouble sooner or later
D. Toyota would build up a better reputation among its customers |
| 阅读理解。 |
Homebuyers nationwide are watching housing prices going up, up, and up. "How high can they go?""
is the question on everyone"s lips?" As long as interest rates stay around 5 percent, nothing might be able
to prevent housing prices going up," said one house seller in Santa Monica, California.
"It"s crazy," said Tim, who is looking for a house near the beach. "In 1993, I bought my first place,
a two bedroom flat in Venice, for $70 000. My friends thought then that I was overpaying. Five years
later, I had to move. I sold it for $230 000, which was a nice profit. Last year, while visiting friends here,
I saw in the local paper that the exact same flat was for sale for $510 000!"
It is a seller"s market. Homebuyers feel 1ike they have to offer at least 10 percent more than the asking
price.Donna, a new owner of a one-bedroom flat in Venice Beach, said, "That"s what I did. I told the owner
that whatever anyone offers you, I"ll give you $20 000 more, under the table, so you don"t have to pay your
house seller any of it. I was tired of negotiating with the house sellers.
Tim says he hopes he doesn"t get that desperate. "Whether you decide to buy or decide not to buy, you
still feel like you made the wrong decision. If you buy, you feel like you overpaid. If you don"t buy, you
want to kick yourself for passing up a great opportunity."
Everyone says the bubble (泡沫) has to burst sometime, but everyone hopes it will burst the day after
they sell their house. Even goverment officials have no idea what the future will bring. "All we can say is
that, clearly, these things go in regular cycles," said the state director of housing. "What goes up must come
down. But, as we all know, housing prices always stay up a little higher than they go down. So you can"t
lose over the long run. Twenty years down the road, your house is always worth more than you paid for it." |
| 1. If Tim had sold his flat last year, he could have earned _____. |
| [ ] |
A. $510 000
B. $440 000
C. $280 000
D. $160 000 |
| 2. Donna paid another $20 000 to the owner secretly because _____. |
| [ ] |
A. she felt like offering 10% more
B. secret money made low price
C. the owner asked for the money
D. she was bored with bargaining |
| 3. We can infer from Tim"s words in paragraph 4 that _____. |
| [ ] |
A. homebuyers feel hesitate facing rising house prices
B. buying a house is always a great opportunity
C. homebuyers never make the right decision
D. both sellers and buyers become desperate |
| 4. What is the author"s opinion about the housing bubble? |
| [ ] |
A. It is something everyone hates to see.
B. Only experts know when it will burst.
C. It is unavoidable in the regular circles.
D. It usually stays for about twenty years. |
| 阅读理解。 |
In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an
apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent
cannot increase, therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after
a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits.
Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new
buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who
need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of
apartments in the city.
Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal
government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally
look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers.
They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases.
Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics
claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves
without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers
cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept
jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent
control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if "other things are equal". Economists
do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some
economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Fconomists do agree, however, that there are
no simple answers to economic questions. |
| 1. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may _____. |
| [ ] |
A. cause a shortage of apartments
B. worry those who rent apartments as homes
C. increase the profits of landlords
D. encourage landlords to invest in building apartment |
| 2. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may _____. |
| [ ] |
A. cause a shortage of apartments
B. worry those who rent apartments as homes
C. increase the profits of landlords
D. encourage landlords to invest in building apartment |
| 3. The problem of unemployment will arise _____. |
| [ ] |
A. if the minimum wage is set too high
B. if the minimum wage is set too low
C. if the workers are unskilled
D. if the maximum wage is set |
| 4. The passage tells us _____. |
| [ ] |
A. the relationship between supply and demand
B. the possible results of government controls
C. the necessity of government control
D. the urgency of getting rid of government controls |
| 5. Which of the following statements is NOT true? |
| [ ] |
A. The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.
B. Minimum wage cannot always protect employees.
C. Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.
D. Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory. |
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