C
With smart phones taking the world by Storm，a phone that Can only send and receive voice
calls and text messages may seem like a relic from a bygone age．Yet in East Africa，simple
phones like these are changing the face of the economy，thanks to the mobile money services that are spreading across the region．
Usilng the text-messaging function built into the GSM system(全球通)used by most cell
phone networks，these services allow people without a bank account or credit card to use their
phone as an electronic walletthat can be used to store．send or receive cash．
It works like this：you pay cash to your local agent who then tops up your mobile money
account using a secure form of text messaging．That money can be transferred(转账)to another
person by sending a message to their cell phone account．
For some the system is a lifeline．“If I didn,t have my mobile phone．1 would be very
poor，”says Neyasse Neemur，a mother of four children who lives in northern Kenya．“Now I
can sell fish．”
Neemur took up fishing in July last year，but making money from it was a little tricky，
especially as Turkana people do not usually eat fish．A truck from Ethiopia to Tanzania passes
through her village once a week，and she arranged to have the driver transport the fish several
hundred kilometres south to market in Kisumu．where relatives sell the fish．
“I get the money transfer immediately．”says Neemur．“Then I can pay for my children to go to school and for vegetables and beans，”she adds，“so I don’t need to eat fish．”
According to the Central Bank of Kenya，payments worth around l billion Kenyan shillings
($13 million)per day were transferred through Kenya,s mobile money systems in 2009，equalling
the country,s credit card transactions(业务)．The bank expects mobile money transfers to overtake credit cards in 2010．
49．In Paragraph l，the author uses“simple phones”to________.
A．make a comparison    B．introduce a topic
C．describe a scene     D．offer an argument
50．What can we learn about the simple phones in East Africa?
A．They might help the local people apply for a bank account．
B．They will replace the banks completely in the near future．
C．They provide a safe means for the locals to do business．
D．They can do nothing except send and receive calls or messages．
51．The word“it”in the third paragraph refers to_______.
A．the GSM system    B．the mobile money service
C．the credit card service D．the cell phone networks
52．The story of Neyasse Neemur suggests that_______.
A．the mobile money service plays a key rote in the locals, life
B．Neemur uses her mobile phone to contact her customers
C。her relatives tricks Turkana people to eat the fish they sell
D．the Bank of Kenya helps her improve her living condition

C

With smart phones taking the world by Storm，a phone that Can only send and receive voice

calls and text messages may seem like a relic from a bygone age．Yet in East Africa，simple

phones like these are changing the face of the economy，thanks to the mobile money services that are spreading across the region．

Usilng the text-messaging function built into the GSM system(全球通)used by most cell

phone networks，these services allow people without a bank account or credit card to use their

phone as an electronic walletthat can be used to store．send or receive cash．

It works like this：you pay cash to your local agent who then tops up your mobile money

account using a secure form of text messaging．That money can be transferred(转账)to another

person by sending a message to their cell phone account．

For some the system is a lifeline．“If I didn,t have my mobile phone．1 would be very

poor，”says Neyasse Neemur，a mother of four children who lives in northern Kenya．“Now I

can sell fish．”

Neemur took up fishing in July last year，but making money from it was a little tricky，

especially as Turkana people do not usually eat fish．A truck from Ethiopia to Tanzania passes

through her village once a week，and she arranged to have the driver transport the fish several

hundred kilometres south to market in Kisumu．where relatives sell the fish．

“I get the money transfer immediately．”says Neemur．“Then I can pay for my children to go to school and for vegetables and beans，”she adds，“so I don’t need to eat fish．”

According to the Central Bank of Kenya，payments worth around l billion Kenyan shillings

($13 million)per day were transferred through Kenya,s mobile money systems in 2009，equalling

the country,s credit card transactions(业务)．The bank expects mobile money transfers to overtake credit cards in 2010．

49．In Paragraph l，the author uses“simple phones”to________.

A．make a comparison    B．introduce a topic

C．describe a scene     D．offer an argument

50．What can we learn about the simple phones in East Africa?

A．They might help the local people apply for a bank account．

B．They will replace the banks completely in the near future．

C．They provide a safe means for the locals to do business．

D．They can do nothing except send and receive calls or messages．

51．The word“it”in the third paragraph refers to_______.

A．the GSM system    B．the mobile money service

C．the credit card service D．the cell phone networks

52．The story of Neyasse Neemur suggests that_______.

A．the mobile money service plays a key rote in the locals, life

B．Neemur uses her mobile phone to contact her customers

C。her relatives tricks Turkana people to eat the fish they sell

D．the Bank of Kenya helps her improve her living condition

C

With a VISA card in your hand, the world opens up to you. With more than 24 million places across the world accepting VISA, you can use your VISA card instead of cash to pay for your everyday purchases—whether you are shopping at the grocery store, dining at a restaurant, filling your car with petrol or buying the perfect gift on your travels. You can even use it to get cash from more than one million ATMs around the world.

To avoid even that inconvenience, you can take the following basic precautions:When you get your card:

Sign the signature panel immediately;4BIf you have been given a PIN(personal identification number) to use at a cash machine or in shops, memorize it—never write it down;

If you choose your own PIN, or change the one you were given, avoid obvious choices such as your date of birth or telephone number;

Do not tell anyone your PIN;

At home

Keep your sales and cash machine receipts and check them against your card or bank statement;

If any amount is incorrect or you spot a transaction you did not make, call the bank or other organizations that issued your card immediately;

Keep a list of your card numbers, along with the telephone numbers you should call if they are lost or stolen.

In the shop

Check the sales slip to ensure the amount is correct and the total has been filled in before you sign;

Make sure the retailer gives the card back to you, along with your copy of the voucher(收据）；

Keep your card close to you—be ware of pickpockets(扒手);

Do not leave your card in your car’s glove compartment.

Telephone and mail order shopping:

When you place an order over the telephone or by mail, give your card number only if you are confident about the company’s reputation;

You might be asked for your VISA card security code—the three digits at the end of the card number printed on the signature panel. Give the seller that code but never give your PIN.

43.If you were asked for your VISA card security code, what would you do?

A.Never tell the card number to anybody

B.Check the card number and never give your PIN

C.Give your card number only if you are confident about the company

D.Call the bank or other organizations for help

44.What’s a VISA card?

A.It’s a card that you can use to pay for something.

B.It’s a card which includes a PIN, without that it is penniless.

C.It’s another form of money, which can buy anything around the world.

D.It’s something that you can place an order over the telephone or by mail.

45.What’s the title of the passage?

A.VISA Card Is Important            B.ATM’s Replacement—VISA Card

C.Inconvenient, Safe But Cheap       D.VISA Card—Another World Opens to You

46.Which of the following statements is right?

A.We can buy anything in the world with a VISA.

B.If your VISA card is stolen, you should tell the bank your card number.

C.In case of forgetting your PIN, you can tell your mother your PIN.

D.You can put your VISA card in your car if there’s nobody around you.

C

    With smart phones taking the world by Storm，a phone that Can only send and receive voice

calls and text messages may seem like a relic from a bygone age．Yet in East Africa，simple

phones like these are changing the face of the economy，thanks to the mobile money services that are spreading across the region．

    Usilng the text-messaging function built into the GSM system(全球通)used by most cell

 phone networks，these services allow people without a bank account or credit card to use their

 phone as an electronic walletthat can be used to store．send or receive cash．

    It works like this：you pay cash to your local agent who then tops up your mobile money

 account using a secure form of text messaging．That money can be transferred(转账)to another

 person by sending a message to their cell phone account．

    For some the system is a lifeline．“If I didn,t have my mobile phone．1 would be very

poor，”says Neyasse Neemur，a mother of four children who lives in northern Kenya．“Now I

can sell fish．”

    Neemur took up fishing in July last year，but making money from it was a little tricky，

especially as Turkana people do not usually eat fish．A truck from Ethiopia to Tanzania passes

through her village once a week，and she arranged to have the driver transport the fish several

 hundred kilometres south to market in Kisumu．where relatives sell the fish．

    “I get the money transfer immediately．”says Neemur．“Then I can pay for my children to go to school and for vegetables and beans，”she adds，“so I don’t need to eat fish．”

    According to the Central Bank of Kenya，payments worth around l billion Kenyan shillings

($13 million)per day were transferred through Kenya,s mobile money systems in 2009，equalling

the country,s credit card transactions(业务)．The bank expects mobile money transfers to overtake credit cards in 2010．

49．In Paragraph l，the author uses“simple phones”to________.

  A．make a comparison    B．introduce a topic

  C．describe a scene      D．offer an argument

50．What can we learn about the simple phones in East Africa?

  A．They might help the local people apply for a bank account．

  B．They will replace the banks completely in the near future．

  C．They provide a safe means for the locals to do business．

  D．They can do nothing except send and receive calls or messages．

51．The word“it”in the third paragraph refers to_______.

  A．the GSM system    B．the mobile money service

  C．the credit card service D．the cell phone networks

52．The story of Neyasse Neemur suggests that_______.

  A．the mobile money service plays a key rote in the locals, life

  B．Neemur uses her mobile phone to contact her customers

  C。her relatives tricks Turkana people to eat the fish they sell

  D．the Bank of Kenya helps her improve her living condition

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. 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 experts 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. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that 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 decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected 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. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

1. 1.

   There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may________.

   1. A.
      cause a shortage of apartments
   2. B.
      worry those who rent apartments as homes.
   3. C.
      increase the profits of landlords.
   4. D.
      encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.
2. 2.

   We can safely say that rent control_________.

   1. A.
      will always benefit those who rent apartments.
   2. B.
      is unnecessary.
   3. C.
      will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.
   4. D.
      is necessary under all conditions
3. 3.

   There will be the problem of unemployment if ________________.

   1. A.
      the minimum wage is set too high..
   2. B.
      the minimum wage is set too early.
   3. C.
      the workers are unskilled.
   4. D.
      the maximum wage is set for poor workers.
4. 4.

   The passage tells us about _______________.

   1. A.
      the relationship between supply and demand.
   2. B.
      the possible results of government controls.
   3. C.
      the necessity of government control.
   4. D.
      the urgency of getting rid of government control.
5. 5.

   Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   1. A.
      The results of economic decisions cannot always be predicted.
   2. B.
      Minimum wage cannot always protect employees.
   3. C.
      Economic theory can help predict the results of economic decision if other factors are not changing.
   4. D.
      Economists usually have the same prediction about an economic decision.