Nine out of 10 people have run up unsecured debt and many fear they will never be able to pay back what they owe, a survey has claimed.
Around 89% of people aged between l|8 and 35 said they owed money on a credit card, loan or overdraft, the research showed.
A third of people admitted they did not think- they would ever be debt-free, 54% of whom said they would always need to borrow money in order to fund the lifestyle they wanted.
One in five of these people also claimed they were not worried about the possibility of their debts being passed on to their next of kin if they died before they were repaid.
Just over half who owed money said they did not feel in control of their debt, with 8% admitting they had needed to ask for help with repayments from a friend or family member.Eight out of 10 people also told the research for discount website MyVoucherCodes.co.uk that they thought it was too easy to borrow money through their bank or on credit cards.
Farhad Farhadi, MyVoucherCodes.co.uk’s personal finance expert, said: "The majority of British adults owe money m some way, shape or form, but to see that almost a third think they’ll never be free c ^ from debt is quite alarming.
"When borrowing money from any source, how you are going to repay it should always be in the back of your mind.
"A lot of people don’t-really think about ’die consequences of borrowing money and it can be easy to get complacent, but keeping it all under control should be a priority from the off.Only borrow what you really think you can afford to pay back."The best title for this passage is_________.
A.I’ll die in debt, say one in three | B.Desperate British |
C.The beginning of the end | D.Borrowing money from any source |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.Most British adults are in debt in some v/ay. |
B.It is hard for the British to borrow money through their bank. |
C.Lots of people do not take repaying money seriously. |
D.This passage is a warning for the British. |
What does the underlined phrase mean?
A.end with | B.from the start |
C.ever since | D.fore ever |
What does Farhad mean by saying "the majority of British adults owe money in some way, shape or form"?
A.It is natural to owe money m Britain so there in no need to worry. |
B.It is natural to owe money in Britain as long as you are in control. |
C.It does not matter to owe money in Britain if you are rich enough. |
D.It seems that the British enjoy owing money in some way. |
Teaching materials for learning Chinese are provided here. There are sites where you may find interesting instructions suitable for you. Here are some sites to begin your surfing.
You may start with these pages from this website — just to get a little taste of it without working too hard.
● A Is For Love
Flash cards for learning a few Chinese words
● Listening to the sound of Chinese
Play a few words of Chinese on your computer.
● A few Chinese words
Each word is enlarged for easy study.
If you are studying Chinese, these tools can help.
● Zhongwen site
More than a dictionary!
● Clavis Sinica
Excellent program by Professor David Porter. It displays a whole document in Chinese [GB] or [BIG5], and gives individual word’s definition, pronunciation as well as much more information when you click on that word. If you are studying Chinese, this is a very useful tool.
● Chinese Character Visual Dictionary
If you like to know more, go to the following sites on the Internet.
● The Chinese Outpost
Pronunciation, Character and Grammar By Mark Andrew Baker. The best. A must-visit site.
● Learn Cantonese / Mandarin Online
● Internet Based Chinese Teaching and Learning
● Rainland Kids discover Chinese — Site is in Germany
If you want to have a better understanding of China, go to this one.
● Wanfang Data
As an affiliate (分支) of Chinese Ministry of Science && Technology, Wanfang Data has been the leading information provider in China since 1950s. With a wide range of database resources and value-added services, Wanfang Data has become a gateway to understanding Chinese culture, medicine, business, science, etc.The underlined lines are probably some ______.
A.books | B.websites |
C.tips for learning Chinese | D.dictionaries for learning Chinese |
This passage is most probably from ______.
A.a TV programme | B.a teacher’s lecture |
C.a newspaper | D.the Internet |
If you want to know each Chinese character’s definition, pronunciation and much more information, you’d better surf ______.
A.Zhongwen site | B.A Is For Love |
C.Clavis Sinica | D.A few Chinese words |
If you want to know China about its culture, medicine, business, science, you’d better surf ______.
A.Learn Mandarin online | B.Wanfang Data |
C.Rainland kids discover Chinese | D.The Chinese Outpost |
The underlined word “gateway” in the last paragraph probably refers to ______.
A.an opening in a wall that can be closed by a gate |
B.a place through which you can go to another place |
C.the space when a door is open |
D.a means of getting or achieving something |
Norm Pethrick, a 36-year-old man in Australia’s northern city Darwin, was praised on Thursday for jumping onto a crocodile’s back to save his wife Wendy at Litchfield National Park, a popular tourist spot southwest of Darwin, a local newspaper reported.
Ms Pethrick was standing on a river bank Wednesday afternoon when the saltwater crocodile lunged (扑), locking its jaws on both her legs as it tried to drag her underwater.
Norm Pethrick, who with his wife had been collecting water, immediately went to help her. He jumped onto the back, poked (戳) the eyes of the crocodile and finally got his wife free.
Ms Pethrick was later taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for a medical treatment. The doctors said she was suffering eight puncture wounds (伤口) in her right leg, a puncture wound in her left leg and a serious cut to one of her fingers.
“This could have been a fatal and tragic situation,” said the general manager of Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH), Dr Len Notaras, according to a local report.
He said Ms Pethrick was saved by her husband’s “quick and diligent actions”.
Dr Notaras also said she would remain in hospital for three to four days and have an operation to clean the wounds, which are easy to get infected because of bacteria (细菌) on the teeth of the crocodile.This passage is most likely to be found in _____.
A.a travel guide | B.a newspaper |
C.a textbook | D.a novel |
The crocodile attacked Ms Pethrick when she was ______.
A.swimming in the river | B.standing on the river bank |
C.watching the crocodile | D.fishing in the water |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about Ms Pethrick?
A.Her eyes were badly poked. |
B.She had eight wounds altogether. |
C.One of her fingers also got hurt. |
D.One of the crocodile’s teeth was found in her leg. |
According to the passage, Norm Pethrick can be described as following EXCEPT ______.
A.brave | B.diligent |
C.quick | D.humorous |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A.The husband should save the wife |
B.A man saves wife’s life from crocodile’s jaws |
C.A crocodile is not so dangerous as people imagine |
D.Human beings can beat crocodiles sometimes |
Does style really sell? How can the appearance of a product be more important than what it does? The battle between form and function rose again when James Dyson, British inventor of the Dvson vacuum cleaner that has sold in millions around the world, resigned as chairman of London's Design Museum. It is widely believed that Mr. Dyson felt that the museum put too much stress on style at the expense of serious industrial design.
Mr. Dyson accused the museum of not keeping true to itself. He may be right, but these days, museums everywhere can no longer afford to be unique centers of scholarship and learning. Among competition for sponsorship, they must use exhibitions of populist culture, nice cafes and shops or, best of all, a new building by Frank Gehry to increase visitor numbers.
On the one hand, some producers can be too old-fashioned and too concerned with the importance of product engineering and the functionality of their goods. On the other hand, there are those who believe that how a product looks is more important. Design is indeed a broad term, involving both function and form. Typically, in any given product area, it changes from the former to the latter. Clothing is a good example. But surely you would have to be a very shallow person to think something's appearance is more important than what it does.
Today nearly all goods at any given price point do much the same job. So almost the only way producers can differentiate their products from those of their competitors is to create some sort of emotional connection with the consumer, which could be through the visual appeal of the product or its packaging, or the imagery(意象) created by advertising. And what of the Dyson vacuum cleaner? Mr. Dyson may believe that people buy these machines because of the graphs showing their superior suction, but most vacuum cleaners do a good job; the main reason people pay extra for a Dyson is that it is a vacuum cleaner with a fashionable brand. With its inside workings exposed, it is a bit like a Richard Rogers building with all its pipes shown in bright colors on the outside instead of being hidden inside. Functional it may be, but it is a bit of a trick, too.Mr. Dyson left the Design Museum because he thought the museum.
A.didn't increase the number of visitors |
B.couldn't provide scholarships for learners |
C.wasn't loyal to its original purpose of learning |
D.didn't have great appeal for serious industrial design |
What can we learn from Paragraph 4 ?
A.A product with convenient packaging sells well. |
B.The majority of consumers prefer to buy branded goods. |
C.Most similarly priced products are of a comparable standard. |
D.Emotion contributes much to the development of advertising industry. |
The author believes that people buy the Dyson vacuum cleaner because.
A.it has very good suction | B.it is fashionable |
C.it sells well around the world | D.it is invented by James Dyson |
What is the author's attitude towards the form of a product?
A.Optimistic. | B.Doubtful. |
C.Disapproving. | D.Objective. |
Melbourne, with a population of over 3.5 million, is the second largest city in Australia. It is clean, safe, dynamic and exciting, and well known internationally for its universities and other educational institutions. The city has well-planned tree-lined wide streets and many beautiful parks and gardens. It has a good transport system of roads, buses, trains, and trams. The La Trobe University campus is connected to the Central Business District by trams, express buses, and bus and train connections. Melbourne is a culturally rich city, and is home to large communities of people from all parts of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The city is famous for its restaurants, theatres, music, opera, ballet, art, culture, and shops, and a lively and dynamic nightlife. Melbourne people are fond of sports, and the city hosts many famous international sports events. Near Melbourne there are beautiful coastlines with excellent beaches, national parks, forests, wineries (葡萄酒厂), winter snowfields and summer resorts. The climate is temperate and comfortable, with warm summers and cool winters. In summer, maximum daytime temperatures range from 26°C to 36°C, and in winter from 12°C to 18°C. The weather in Melbourne can be variable from day to day. Melbourne was rated the world's best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Melbourne is well-known in the world for its _____.
A.large population | B.educational institutions |
C.transport system | D.beautiful parks and gardens |
According to the passage, Melbourne is a city where _____.
A.rich people choose to live | B.the best wine is produced |
C.various cultures exist | D.Asian food is popular |
The underlined word “temperate” most probably means _____.
A.hot | B.mild | C.dry | D.cold |
The best title for the passage might be _____.
A.An Ideal Place for Shopping | B.A City with the Best Climate |
C.The World's Best City to Live in | D.The World's Most Beautiful City |
Attractions in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N. Carroll Street on Madison’s Capital Square
Discover Wisconsin’s history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program. Admission is free.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am--4:00 pm.
(608) 264-6555
www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum
Swiss historical village
612 Seventh Ave., New Glarus
The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America’s heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of everyday life in the nineteenth-century Midwest.
Tue.—Fri., May 1st –October 31st , 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Admission is $20.
(608) 527-2317www.swisshistoricalvillage.com
Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe
6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI
One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in a historic creamery. While visiting enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our cafe overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!
Gallery open Tue.—Sun., 10:00 am—5:00 pm.
Cafe open Wed.—Sat., 11:00 am—3:00 pm.
Sun. brunch with wine, 10:00—3:00 pm.
(608) 845-6600 www.artisangal.com
Christopher Columbus Museum
239 Whitney St., Columbus
World-class exhibit—2000 quality souvenirs(纪念品) marking Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.
Open daily, 8:15 am – 4:00 pm.
(920) 623-1992www.columbusantiquemall.comWhich of the following is on Capital Square?
A.Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.Swiss Historical Village. |
C.Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe. | D.Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can you go for a visit on Monday?
A.Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.Swiss Historical Village. |
C.Artisan Gallery & Creamery cafe. | D.Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can visitors have lunch?
A.At Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B.At Swiss Historical Village. |
C.At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe. | D.At Christopher Columbus Museum. |
We learn from the text that___________.
A.Swiss Historical Village is open for half a year |
B.Christopher Columbus Museum overlooks a river |
C.tickets are needed for Wisconsin Historical Museum |
D.Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe are open daily for 4 hours |