In Western countries people have been using the installment （按揭）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., 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 buyers pays one quarter or one third of the price as a down payment 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. This is why, in some countries, the government controls the installment plan by fixing the amount of the down payment to discourage people from buying more than they can pay for on the installment plan.Which of the following is true about the installment plan?
| A．British families just use the installment plan to buy furniture. |
| B．More than 10 precent American families buy things on installment. |
| C．Americans spend more on installment buying than British people do. |
| D．The payment of installment buying is easier than buying by cash. |
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 a down payment |
| D．The service offered by installment plan charged extra money |
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 sell what he has bought |
| D．He will go into debt |
The advantages of installment buying might include all the followings 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 |
In some countries, the government controls 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 |
One winter evening, a storekeeper was going to close up his shop. Suddenly he saw Seth, a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow grab a pound of fresh butter and concealed it in his hat. No sooner had the storekeeper seen the act than he hit upon exactly the right revenge. He would punish the thief, and satisfy his own appetite for fun.
Seth had his hat on his head, and the butter in his hat. He was anxious to leave. However, the rightful owner of the butter offered him a cup of hot drink, took him by the shoulders and planted him in a seat close to the stove. The grocer stuffed in the stove as many sticks of wood as he could possibly fit inside.
Seth already could feel the butter settling down closer to his hair, so he jumped up, declaring that he must go. “Sit down; don’ t be in such a hurry,” replied the grocer, pushing him back into the chair again.
Streak after streak of the butter came pouring from under the poor man’s hat. The fun-loving grocer kept on stuffing wood into the stove. Then, as if surprised, he remarked, “You seem to be perspiring (排汗) as if you were warm! Let me put your hat away for you.”
“No!” exclaimed poor Seth at last, unable to stand it a moment longer. “No, I must go; let me out.”
A greasy (油腻的) waterfall of butter was now pouring down the poor man’s face and neck, soaking (浸泡) into his clothes, and trickling down his body into his boots. He was bathed in oil from head to toe.
Just as his victim darted out the door, the grocer said, “I reckon (估计) the fun I’ve had out of you is worth the money, so I shan’t charge you for that pound of butter in your hat.”
1．Why did Seth put the butter in his hat?
A. Because he just wanted to play a trick on the grocer.
B. Because he had nowhere to put the butter but in the hat.
C. Because he wanted to revenge himself on the grocer.
D. Because he didn’t want to pay for it.
2．What is not the action that the grocer took as a revenge?
A. The grocer offered Seth a cup of hot drink.
B. The grocer forced Seth to take a seat near the stove.
C. The grocer overcharged Seth for the butter.
D. The grocer offered to take off Seth’s hat.
3．What was the purpose of the grocer’s hospitality?
A. He wanted to make friends with Seth.
B. He wanted to be kind to him.
C. He wanted to take his revenge on Seth by making the butter in his hat melt.
D. He wanted to sell more of his goods.
4．What is the best title of the passage?
A. Great fun B. The right revenge C. A fun-loving grocer D. A foolish customer
I have a friend who lives by a three-word philosophy (人生哲学): Seize the moment. Just possibly, she may be the wisest woman on this planet. Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, don’t know it is coming or are too strict to depart from their routine.
I can’t count the times I called my sister and said, “How about going to lunch in half an hour?” She would gasp and stammer (结结巴巴地说), “I can’t. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known it yesterday, I had a late breakfast, and it looks like rain.” And my personal favorite response: “It’s just Monday.” She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. From then on, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible.
Life has a way of going faster as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises made to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all have to show for our lives is repetition of “I’m going to” , “I plan on” and “Someday, when things are settled down a bit.”
When anyone calls my “seize the moment” friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.
My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years . I love ice cream. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happily.
Now ... go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to … not something on your SHOULD DO list.
1．The example of the writer’s sister serves as ________.
A. an argumentB. an introduction C. a support D. a conclusion
2．The writer thinks that the excuse “It’s just Monday.” is acceptable, because ________.
A. it is still likely that they can have lunch together some time later
B. it sounds most reasonable of all the excuses
C. it shows respect for the writer’s suggestion
D. it indicates the time when they can have lunch together
3．The underlined word “contagious” in the fourth paragraph means “________” .
A. appropriate B. influential C. practical D. evident
4．What is the purpose of the writer by writing this passage?
A. To suggest how time flies.
B. To persuade busy people to relax.
C. To advise people to keep their promise.
D. To persuade readers to be flexible on their schedule for practical joy.
A particular quirk(古怪举动)of Canadian education is that there isn’t one system but 13. All 10 provinces and all 3 territories have the right to run their own education systems. It’s established in the Constitution.
This means there is no national standard. Nobody agrees on the grade at which one makes the transition from elementary to secondary school, nor on how many years’ schooling is compulsory, nor how many grades there should be before college or university, nor how schools should be funded. Families relocating often get a surprise when they are informed that the children will have to repeat a grade because the one they have just finished does not cover the required courses to pass into the next grade where they are now.
Older children from isolated areas may be sent away to boarding schools, but this practice is falling out of favor. These days children in a very small community are more likely to attend the same school from kindergarten to grade 12(13 in Ontario, 11 in Quebec). In rural areas, pupils are taken to the nearest school in large yellow buses, some spending over an hour on the bus each way. Some never do a spot of homework at home because they always complete it on the bus. With the arrival of computers, high-quality education has now become possible even in very remote areas. It also enables parents to educate their children at home.
Colleges in Canada are sponsored by the state. Fully 75% of Canadian students go on after high school to some sort of further education. Having a university degree is fast becoming the minimum standard for employment but is far from a guarantee of a good job; those with a PhD in Philosophy, if not holding tenure at a university, are likely to be flipping burgers at a fast-food joint.
75 ______________________
Strange education system |
76 _____________ |
Not one system but 13 |
No national standard |
*No agreement on the grade at which one transfers from elementary to secondary school |
|
| *No agreement on 77_______________ |
||
| *No agreement on78____________ before college or university |
||
| *No consensus about 79________________funding schools |
||
| 80 ____________ |
*Older children from isolated areas studying in boarding schools |
|
| *Children in a very small community 81________ the same school till Grade 12-13 |
||
| *Children in rural areas taken to the nearest school spending over an hour in large school buses 82 _______________ |
||
College education |
* Fully 75% high school students83 ____________ |
|
| * Getting a university degree becoming 84 ______________ for employment |
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through lift, being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact, it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stress, and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choice between "fight" or "flight" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however little the stress is, it involves the same response. It is when such a reaction lasts long, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives (it would be unwise to do so even if we could), we need to find ways to deal with it.
66. People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because_____.
A. they do not know how to enjoy themselves
B. they do not believe that relaxation is important for health C. they are travelling fast all the time
D. they are becoming busier with their work
67. According to the writer, the most important character for a good manager is his ________.
A. not fearing stress B. knowing the art of relaxation
C. high sense of responsibility D. having control over performance
68. Which of the following statements is true?
A. We can find some ways to avoid stress.
B. Stress is always harmful to people.
C. It is easy to change the habit of keeping oneself busy with work.
D. Different people can withstand different amounts of stress.
69. In Paragraph 3, "such a reaction" refers back to_______.
A. "making a choice between 'flight' or 'fight'"
B. "reaction to stress both chemically and physically"
C. "responding to crises quickly"
D. "losing heart at the signs difficulties"
70. In the last sentence of the passage, "do so " refers to ______.
A. "expose ourselves to stress"
B. "find ways to deal with stress"
C. "remove stress from our lives"
D. "established links between diseases and stress"
Birthday parties, Christmas and Easter can be difficult times for grandmothers and parents as they rush around trying to arrange the perfect celebration or making everyone as happy as possible! What’s better than a birthday party that makes your grandchild smile throughout or a celebration that impresses relatives and close friends?
That is why Granny Look has supplied in this section, one of the most comprehensive guides to making these special occasions that happen perhaps once a year a real success.
From a selection of Advent calendars to party planning or Christmas-stocking fillers we have all the possibilities covered so that your children and grandchildren will really have a memorable time with attractive gifts and original ideas.
Bring that festive spirit to all those traditional days, and ensure you are always ready for any possibility. Granny Look’s extensive links are bound to make every special occasion an entirely different experience from the year before and allow everyone to feel entertained and content.
CHRISTMAS-STOCKING FILLERS
LOOK no further!! Granny Look helps the family to prepare in time for FATHER CHRISTMAS. Give SANTA CLAUS some ideas. He can fill all the children’s Christmas-stockings with goodies! Unique Christmas gifts for children - stocking fillers.
A Granny Look favorite!
ADVENT CALENDARS
All children love the build-up to CHRISTMAS! What is better than choosing one of Granny Look’s selection of Advent Calendars! Here you will find a list of websites to buy traditional or fun Advent calendars for children at Christmas time.
A Granny Look favorite!
BIRTHDAYS
LOOKING for a SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIFT? Explore Granny Look’s selection of PRESENTS, PARTYPLANNING, PARTY TOYS and PARTY GAMES for your Children and Grandchildren’s BIRTHDAYS.
Plan and organize the KIDDIE’S PARTIES ahead of time!!
Don’t forget the PERSONALISED INVITATIONS!
CHRISTMAS
LOOK and BOOK now!! Granny Look’s selection of CHRISTMAS GIFTS for children.
Some guides to “What’s on in your area” … for the kids. PANTOS, SHOWS, THEATRES … at Christmas time!
UNIQUE Christmas gifts for Children. Spend QUALITY TIME with your Children’s Children this FESTIVE SEASON!
61. From the text, we know that “Granny LOOK” is __________.
A. a person who guides you to make your yearly celebration a real success
B. a magazine that helps the family to prepare for special occasions
C. a company that sells all sorts of products on the Internet
D. a website that helps you to prepare for special occasions
62. The purpose of the text is _________.
A. to make children have a memorable holiday
B. to show you how to shop on the Internet
C. to give you some information about Granny Look
D. to introduce some goods
where will you search for the information?
A. At Birthdays. B. At Advent Calendars.
C. At Christmas-stocking fillers. D. At Christmas.
64. You will fail to find any information at Christmas when you need _________.
A. Christmas cards B. fun Advent calendars
C. Christmas gifts D. tickets for theatres
65. If your son wants a traditional Advent calendar, you should search _________.
A. Birthdays B. Advent Calendars
C. Christmas-stocking fillers D. Christmas
本篇主要介绍Granny Look网的办网宗旨以及各种各样的网址链接。