.

—___________ is the population of the United States?

—I don’t know exactly, but I’m sure that it has __________ population than China.

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—___________ is the population of the United States?

     —I don’t know exactly, but I’m sure that it has __________ population than China.

A. How much; much less      B. How many; fewer

     C. What; much less           D. What; a much smaller

---         is the population of Canada?

--- I don’t know exactly, but I’m sure that it has          population than China.

       A．How much; much less                         B．How many; a much less

       C．What; much smaller                             D．What; a much smaller

The opening of two new rural financial institutions yesterday gives hope to the large number of low – income Chinese farmers and small rural business that they will enjoy wider entrance to bank loans.

China has long been struggling to channel lending to its vast rural areas, still not adequately served by the existing financial system. Villages are home to less than one – sixth of all bank branches, accounting for 15 percent of the country’s deposit (存款) and loans in 2006. Cities get 10 times more loans person than the countryside, where over 60 percent of the 1.3 billion population live. And, only 60 percent of the 120 million rural households that need bank loans are able to access them.

The new policy that came out in December, which introduced new types of rural financial institutions like the village bank and the lending company opened yesterday in Sichuan and three others to be opened soon, is expected to breathe life into the rural financial sector. The pilot (试点的) scheme planned in six provinces and autonomous regions – Hubei, Jilin, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Inner Mongolia – encourages individuals, private companies and all financial institutions to get involved in rural financing.

New rural financial institutions are supposed to bring competition to the market, supporting the building of “a new socialist countryside” along with other financial institutions serving villages.

But to really arouse the interest of commercial financial institutions and private investors, the government need to offer more preferential policies instead of just easing the market entry restrictions. It is profits that will drive businesses to rural areas, and it is generally held that these won’t come easy in rural area, with high operation costs and bigger management risks.

1．What are the two rural financial institutions according to the text?

       A．The city bank and Bank of China.

       B．The rural of China and the leading company.

       C．Communication Bank of China and China Construction.

       D．Agricultural Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

2．The second paragraph states          .

       A．the purpose of the new policy

       B．the present rural financial situation

       C．how to carry out the new policy

       D．some extra measures for the new policy

3．In the author’s opinion, one way for the farm areas to develop more quickly is          .

       A．to force banks to offer some money to farmers without interest.

       B．to force banks to give peasants more loans.

       C．to get the government to invest more money.

       D．to get the government to provide more preferential policies.

4．The best title for the passage may be “          ”.

      A．A better life soon for people in rural areas

       B．Enough money to develop rural areas from the government

       C．A hope for rural areas but more needs to be done

       D．A heavy load of the local government