In Western countries people have been using the installment (分期付款) 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.A.,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 (预付定金) 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 (萧条). 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 of 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 adown 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 setl 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 they buy

 

完形填空

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。

Many children may be fond of animals, but few ever think of making the study of animals their career(职业).Even fewer will be   1    by the whole world,   2    the title of United Nations Messenger(使者) of Peace.

But one woman has    3    all that. She has lived with chimpanzees in the African forest for more than 20 years and made great    4   .This woman is Jane Goodall. She was born in London, England, in 1934.Goodall’s lifelong    5    in animals began at an early age. By the age of 10 or 11,Goodall    6    going to Africa to live with animals. This was quite a strange dream in those days, as young    7    didn’t think of having such “wild” actions. But she was   8    by her mother. She told her that if she really wanted something, she should work hard, take advantage of   9   and never give up looking for a way.

When a close friend invited Goodall to Kenya in 1957,she readily   10   .Within a few months of her arrival she met the famous anthropologist(人类学家) Dr. Louis Leakey, who soon decided that Goodall was the    11    person he was looking for to begin a    12    of wild chimpanzees on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.

In July 1960, Goodall arrived at Gombe National Park in Tanzania. At the beginning, studying the chimpanzees was not    13   for her. The animals fled from her   14   , so it took months for her to get close to them. With a strong   15   , she searched the forest every day, trying not to get too close to the chimpanzees too   16   . Gradually the chimpanzees became used to her presence.

She discovered many things of chimpanzees during her first years at Gombe National Park. In October 1960,she observed a chimpanzee making and using   17    to fish for termites (白蚁).This discovery threw    18    on the popular idea at the time that Man was the world’s only toolmaker. The longer Goodall’s research continues, the more it becomes obvious that chimpanzees are very   19    to humans.

Since the mid-1980s, Goodall has been lecturing around the world to raise people’s sense about environmental    20   . “Let’s live in the new age with hope, respect for all living things, understanding and love,” she said.

1.A. recognized　　  　　　　　　  B. known　　　　　　　　　　 C. accepted　　　　   D. admitted

2.A.receiving　　　　　　　　　　   B. giving　　　　　　    C. enjoying　　　　    D. having

3.A.done　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. proved　　　　　　　　　　 C. achieved　　　　    D. realized

4.A.discoveries　　　　　　　　    B. decisions　　　　   C. choices　　　　　　 D. findings

5.A.study　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. interest　　　　　　  C. sense　　　　　　    D. dream

6.A.was fond of 　　　　　　　　 B. tired of　　　　　　  C. insisted on 　　　　　　  D. dreamed of

7.A.boys　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. girls　　　　　　　　  C. men　　　　　　　　  D. women

8.A.encouraged　　　　　　　　    B. prevented　　　　  C. advised　　　　　　 D. forced

9.A.knowledge　　　　　　　　　　 B. youth　　　　　　    C. hope　　　　　　　　 D. chances

10.A.accepted　　　　　　　　　　  B. refused　　　　　　  C. hesitated　　　　    D. considered

11.A.only　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. last　　　　　　　　   C. special　　　　　　　　　　 D. first

12.A.project　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. study　　　　　　    C. center　　　　　　   D. career

13.A.hard　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. interesting　　　　  C. easy　　　　　　　　  D. convenient

14.A.in surprise　　　　　　　　    B. in a hurry　　　　  C. as expected　　　　　　  D. in fear

15.A.will　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. body　　　　　　　　 C. desire　　　　　　    D. mind

16.A.far　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. near　　　　　　　　  C. soon　　　　　　　　 D. much

17.A.nets　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. tools　　　　　　　　 C. holes　　　　　　　　 D. spoon

18.A.doubt　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. light　　　　　　　　  C. questions　　　　   D. beliefs

19.A.close　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. similar　　　　　　   C. friendly　　　　　　 D. helpful

20.A.improvement　　　　　　    B. protection　　　　  C. pollution　　　　    D. destruction

 

阅读理解

　　As I travel across China, I hope to learn as much as I can about the Chinese people, your history, and your dreams for the future and I hope to help the Chinese people understand more of America's history, the lessons the American people have drawn from it, and the dreams we hold for the 21st century.

　　I believe both Chinese and Americans aspire(立志，有愿望) to many of the same things--to provide for our families, to teach our children, to build our communities, to protect our earth, to shape our own futures, and pass brighter possibilities on to our children.

　　There may be those here and back in America who wonder whether closer ties and deeper friendship between America and China are good. Clearly, the answer is yes. We have a powerful ability to help each other grow. We can learn much from each other. And as two great nations, we have a special responsibility to the future of the world. The steps we take over the next week can lead to far greater strides for our people in the years ahead.

　　Here in this city of your magnificent history, we must always remember that we, too, are ancestors(祖先). Someday our children and their children will ask if we did all we could to build just societies and a more peaceful world. Let our monument be their judgment that we did that. Let our progress include all people, with all their differences, moving toward a common destiny.

　　Let us give new meaning to the words written in the ancient Book of Rites, what you call the Li Shi: When the great way is followed, all under heaven will be equal.

1．It becomes clear from the passage that _____.

[　　]

A．both China and America are the most powerful countries in the world

B．both China and America should do something for the future of the world

C．both China and America are great countries with a long history

D．both China and America can provide their children with good education

2．Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?

[　　]

A．America will encourage their children to learn the Chinese history.

B．The speaker is in the city with the magnificent Chinese history.

C．Both Chinese and Americans share some desires and interests.

D．The speaker wants Chinese to understand more of American history.

3．The underlined word“here”used in Paragraph 3 refers to“_____”.

[　　]

A．in the city　　　　　　　B．on the platform

C．at the ceremony(仪式)　　D．in China

4．It can be inferred that the person who made the speech is a _____.

[　　]

A．scientist　　　　B．statesman

C．businessman　　D．professor

A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.
Grimsvotn is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes
Grimsvotn different is that it lies under a huge glacier（冰川）of ice up to 12 metres thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer(层)
of water between glacier and the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava(岩浆) from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what is happening today.
Now airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp, glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them eating ash-covered grass or the sharp objects.
【小题1】What makes Grimsvotn different from other volcanoes?

A．It is under the sea.	B．Its lava affects the airlines.
C．It is the largest volcano.	D．It is below ice.

【小题2】What keeps Grimsvotn still?

A．The slow flow of water..	B．The thick glacier.
C．The water pressure.	D．The low water temperature.

【小题3】Which of the following is the result of the volcano eruption?

A．It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside.

B．Famers have lost many of their animals.

C．Airlines suffer from the loss of planes.

D．People stop traveling in Europe.

【小题4】how many passengers were forced to stay in the airport?

A．thousands of passengers	B．hundreds of passengers
C．ten thousands of passengers	D．20000 of passengers

The Chinese word"Shanzhai" means a small mountain village， but now it becomes an accepted name for fakes(假货) after" Shanzhai cell phones " produced by small workshops in southern China ，became popular in the mainland market over the past few years.
Besides" Shanzhai" electronic products， there are "Shanzhai" movies， "Shanzhai" stars and even a "Shanzhai" Spring Festival Gala， a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve.
" Shanzhai" has become a culture of its own，symbolizing anything that imitates something famous.
The phenomenon has caused a public debate over whether it is healthy or sick being a copycat.
In southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality，a "Shanzhai" -version"Bird’s Nest" woven by farmers with bamboo attracts wide attention and the"Shanzhai"-version "Water Cube"is popular with tourists too. Both are copies of the famous Olympics buildings in Beijing.
Xie Xizhang，a literature critic，said that taking the "Shanzhai" Gala as an example， when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience， the "Shanzhai" version appears naturally to attract people.
"In spite of its poor techniques and operation， ‘Shanzhai’ culture meets the psychological demands of common people and could be a comfort to their minds," Xie said.
Tian Huiqun，a professor at Beijing Normal University，said that "Shanzhai" culture never copies classic things，only trendy products. In that sense，it's like a computer virus， multiplying without meaning.
Though controversial，"Shanzhai" culture is becoming a widely accepted phenomenon.
"To the mainstream culture, the rise of ‘Shanzhai' culture is a challenge as well as a motivation，" said Xie.
Tian said different kinds of cultures developing together is an ideal situation and it is for the public to choose.
【小题1】The Chinese word "Shanzhai" may have its origin in      .

A．fake cell phones	B．electronic products
C．Spring Festival Gala	D．Olympics buildings

【小题2】The underlined word "imitates" is closest in meaning to       

A．steals

B．copies

C．advertises

D．cheats

【小题3】According to the passage，"Shanzhai" culture refers to      .

A．the action that a person imitates famous people

B．anything that imitates something famous

C．those similar names to famous brands

D．products with poor techniques and quality

【小题4】According to Xie Xizhang ,the mainstream culture       .

A．will be held back by "Shanzhai"culture

B．will sooner or later be replaced by "Shanzhai" culture

C．may develop faster because of the challenging of "Shanzhai" culture

D．thinks nothing of the challenge of"Shanzhai"culture

【小题5】Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．" Shanzhai" culture will definitely fade out

B．"Shanzhai" culture-the mountain village culture

C．"Shanzhai" culture-the mainstream culture

D．"Shanzhai" culture takes on life of its own