Parents need to be good role models to help their children make sensible financial decisions, according to Adam Hancock and his team, from East Caronlina University in the US. Their work highlights that parents who argue about finances contribute to increasing credit card debt among their children during their students years. Their work is published online in Springer's Journal of Family and Economic Issues.
Credit card debt among college students has been a growing concern for researchers and policymakers over the last decade. In addition, there is growing concern among educators that more students are dropping out of school, not because of academic failure, but because of financial reasons, and credit card especially.
Hancock and colleagues' study is the first to examine how parental interactions, and financial knowledge and attitudes may have a cumulative effect (累积效应) on the number of credit cards students own and their level of credit card debt.
The researchers analyzed data for 420 undergraduate students from seven different American universities, who took part in the College Student Financial Literacy Survey. According to the online survey, nearly two-thirds of students had a credit card, and nearly a third had more than one. Those students who reported that their parents argued about finances were more likely to have more than two cards than the students whose parents who did not argue about finances.
In terms of debt, those students who had two or more credit cards were nearly three times more likely to report having credit card debt over $500.
The researchers conclude, "It is clear that the influence of parents cannot be neglected. Researchers, educators and policymakers should work in finding effective ways to increase the positive financial behaviors for college students. We need to help students learn financial skills and establish healthy financial attitudes at earlier ages to prevent poor financial habits from taking root. "In Adam Hancock's research, student's credit card debt is related to their __________.
| A．knowledge | B．concerns | C．school | D．parents |
When college students have credit card debt, they may __________.
| A．quit school | B．fail in their exams |
| C．study financial knowledge | D．have more credit cards |
What can we infer from Paragraph 3?
| A．More than 400 students in a university took the survey. |
| B．The survey was conducted with the paper questionnaire. |
| C．Nearly all the students in this survey have credit cards. |
| D．Students have fewer cards if their parents argue more. |
If you have two or more credit cards, you are more likely to __________.
| A．get wealthy | B．have argument |
| C．buy more things | D．become in debt |
As a student, what can you learn from the passage?
| A．We need to turn to our parents when we have credit card debt. |
| B．We should build correct financial attitudes when we are young. |
| C．We shouldn't have credit cards so that we can avoid argument. |
| D．We can have more credit cards to make life more comfortable. |
People in the United States honor their parents with 2 special days: Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May and Father's Day on the 3rd Sunday in June. These days are to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens.They give love and care. These two days offer an opportunity to think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home and more fathers must help with child-care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother's Day, people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It's also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery. On these days families get together at home as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father's Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are more valued than those bought in stores. It's not the value of the gift that is important, but “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores,florists,candy makers, bakers, phone companies and other stores do lots of business during these holidays.Which is not a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?
| A．Parents bring up children. |
| B．Parents give love and care to children. |
| C．Parents educate children to be good persons. |
| D．Parents pass away before children grow up. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Both festivals are in May. |
| B．Fewer women worked outside the home in the past. |
| C．Not all the children respect their parents. |
| D．Fathers are not as important as mothers at home. |
What do you know about “carnation”?
| A．It only has two kinds of color. |
| B．It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother's Day. |
| C．It's a kind of flower showing love and best wishes. |
| D．People can wear them only on the second Sunday in May. |
On Mother's Day and Father's Day _______.
| A．people usually have family parties |
| B．everyone goes to the cemetery |
| C．children always go to parents' home |
| D．hand-made cards are the most valuable gifts |
Because of the stress and strains of modern life folks today would rather watch television than get together with neighbors. Their behavior doesn't mirror TV soaps like Coronation Street and East Enders.
The Street's Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby know all their neighbors. But the Royal Mail survey shows that real-life under35s wouldn't dream of popping next door for a chat or to borrow a cup of sugar.
Three out of ten say they wouldn't know their neighbors if they saw them in the street. The same proportion would only offer to help neighbors if absolutely necessary, while thirty-onepercent don't want to get to know them better. Twenty-six percent rarely or never speak to the person next door. Thirty-five percent only talk to neighbors occasionally, and six percent actively dislike them. The older generation are still sociable, with seventy percent of over55s taking time to chat to people next door. The report says: “In the past, the British tradition of village green gossip（闲聊）between neighbors was celebrated worldwide. But there's been a clear shift away from local links by the young generation.” Londoners are least likely to be neighbors, with a third rarely or never chatting over the garden fence. People in the Midlands—where 65 percent often speak to their neighbors are most friendly.
Sociologist Jane Blakeman said: “People are working longer hours than ever before, and are traveling further to work. It leaves them far less time at home.”Almost a third of young people_______.
| A．know their neighbours quite well |
| B．have no idea who lives next door to them |
| C．talk to their neighbours when they want to borrow something |
| D．spend time chatting with neighbours like their parents |
It can be inferred that Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby are both_______.
| A．important roles in a popular TV series |
| B．famous stars in TV programmes |
| C．old soap operas |
| D．members of royal family |
Gossip among neighbours is still common among_______.
| A．people under35s | B．people between 35 and 55 |
| C．people over55s | D．people of different ages |
There is a difference between London and the rest of Britain mainly in that non-Londoners
_______.
| A．would help their neighbours only when necessary |
| B．are less likely to have good relations with their neighbours |
| C．wouldn't travel far and find more time to chat with neighbours |
| D．are more likely to keep up the old British tradition of having a chat over garden fence |
Dear Flowermouse,
Thank you for your comments on how Americans and Chinese view each other. This is an important subject. Modern technology has given many nations the chance of destroying other nations. This is a cruel picture but it is a realistic one. It means that every nation should make sure that these weapons of great destruction are never used. This requires greater acceptance of differences among people and nations in all parts of the planet.
Your letter asks specially about Chinese-American relationships but I want to let you know my feelings on a global scale. Because China and America are the most powerful nations and I believe they have a special responsibility for promoting better understanding and for leading the way toward peaceful solutions to the world's problems.
You ask how Chinese and American people view each other. This is an important question. Because I know so little about China that I am not able to judge how Chinese view Americans. I am sure that the view differs according to individual experiences that persons might have. And it is not easy to describe America to foreigners. America is a vast mass of people and cultures. These people came from all parts of the world, from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Australia. Each brought a different culture and a different set of values within a single nation.
I believe that the vast majority of Americans like the vast majority of Chinese want peace and friendship between our two nations. Both China and America have suffered through generations from war and violence in our history. And I believe that it is the special responsibility of all Chinese and all Americans to impress this need for mutual understanding on our neighbors in other.
So my friend, this is my response. Please know that I write to you as a private person living in America. I do feel strongly that people everywhere have more in common than they have in differences. We all share the same basic needs for existence and we all depend upon the same need for the survival of this beautiful planet earth. Maybe we can begin to encourage better communication and better understanding through my columns. I hope so.From the passage we can know that Flowermouse_______.
| A．loves Americans |
| B．has read about the writer's articles |
| C．is an American |
| D．knows little about Americans |
It is likely that the writer_______.
| A．disagrees with Flowermouse |
| B．thinks it possible for nations to be destroyed due to modern technology |
| C．thinks American government share the same opinions with its people |
| D．believes the weapons of great destruction are never used |
The letter that Flowermouse wrote to the writer, maybe have referred to .
| A．American culture |
| B．American society |
| C．Chinese-American relationships |
| D．Chinese society |
The writer's purpose to write the passage is to_______.
| A．introduce Americans to us |
| B．make friends with Flowermouse |
| C．speak for the government of America |
| D．call on nations to understand each other |
A peer is a person who is about the same age as you. Peers affect your life, whether you know it or not, just by spending time with you.
Peers can have a good effect on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in solar system. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone's reading it.
However, sometimes peers affect each other in another way. For example, one kid in school might try to get another to cut class with him, your soccer friend might try to persuade you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball, or a kid in the neighborhood might want you to shoplift with him.
Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group.Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that “everyone's doing it ” may influence some kids to leave their better judgments, or their common senses behind.
Peer pressure can be extremely strong and hard to get rid of. Experiments have shown how peer pressure can influence someone to change mind from what she knows for sure is a correct answer to the incorrect answer—just because everyone else gives the incorrect answer!That holds true for people of any age in peer pressure situations.
It can be hard to walk away from peer pressure, but it can be done. Pay attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do. Inner strength and self-confidence can help you stand firm, walk away, and resist doing something when you know better.What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Peers have a good effect. |
| B．Children give in to peer pressure. |
| C．Peer pressure is hard to stop. |
| D．Peer pressure. |
The underlined word “shoplift” probably means to_______.
| A．do shopping | B．carry goods for shops |
| C．steal in the shop | D．take the lift upstairs in the shop |
The writer will NOT agree that_______.
| A．only children change their correct answers to incorrect ones because of peer pressure |
| B．peers have an effect on each other |
| C．peer pressure can be got rid of |
| D．peers will believe in themselves if there are other peers who agree with them |
The writer intends to _______ by writing the passage.
| A．warn peers to separate from each other |
| B．tell peers to follow others |
| C．show it is hard to walk away from peer pressure |
| D．persuade peers to do what they think is the right thing |
IS THERE LIFE ON EARTH
There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.
The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20 000 light years ago).Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility(可行性) of a manned flying saucer(飞碟) landing on Earth.A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
“We have come to the conclusion,based on last week's satellite landing,” Pro. Zog said,“that there is no life on the Earth.”
“How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.
“For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is composed of solid concrete(混凝土)and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide(一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.”
“What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”
“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than we originally planned. ”
“Are there any other hazards that you discovered in your studies?”
“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark cloud floating over the surface of Earth? We call this the Consolidated Edison Belt. We don't know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have to make further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”
“If what you say is true, won't this set back the flying saucer program several years?”
“Yes, but we shall proceed as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.”
“Prof. Zog, why are we spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth when there is no life there?”
“Because if we Venusians can learn to breathe in an Earth atmosphere, then we can live anywhere.”During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information on whether they can_______.
| A．land a satellite with Venus astronauts on Earth |
| B．make a firstrate flying saucer |
| C．get a Earth Being to Venus |
| D．direct a flying saucer into Manhattan |
According to Prof.Zog,the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because_______.
| A．they need it on their way to the planet of Earth |
| B．the Earth's atmosphere is filled with deadly gases |
| C．oxygen is far from enough in the area of Manhattan where the saucer is to land |
| D．there is no air on the planet of Earth |
The “dark black cloud” on the photograph refers to_______.
| A．the polluted air floating over the surface of Earth |
| B．the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth |
| C．the things that are unknown to everybody |
| D．the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks |
The author wishes to call our attention to the fact_______.
| A．that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extent that he might destroy himself if he went on like this |
| B．that there is no point in spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth |
| C．that pollution has become so serious a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable |
| D．that it is difficult, if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth |