阅读试题

However you view credit cards. it's hard to live in the modem world without one. And if you have one, you owe it to yourself to use it properly.

Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with suspicion by many as being a major part of the "live now pay later" syndrome. Along with hire purchase, rental and leasing schemes. they provide encouragement to spend more money. They can allow you to pile up debts that you have difficulty paying off, they can also let you spend next month's salary today. Of course, it is only the foolhardy who succumb to the temptation to live. temporarily at least, beyond their means. and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards.

Advertising campaigns have. however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They obviate the need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies. All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year. yet judicious purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks interest freecredit. Using me card abroad where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account can extend this period even further.

It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; che number and range of outlets, chough most cards cover major garages, hotels. restaurants and departments stores: and of course. what happens if your card is lost or stolen A credit card chief may be sitting on a potential gold mine particularlyif there is delay in reporting the loss of the card.

Using a credit card wisely takes discipline and a little self-control. Once you realize your debt is someone else’s profit margin, your approach to your plastic will change. With a bit of discipline and some practical knowledge, you can make your cards work for you. rather than the other way round. As a matter of fact, a credit card can cost nothing or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty.

参考译文

无论你对信用卡持什么态虚，在现代世界里，没有信用卡就很难生活。如果你有一张信用卡，那么，把它用好就是你自己的事。

虽然信用卡正成为金融业更能被人接受的一部分，[l]很多人还是对它持怀疑态度，认为它是“寅吃卯粮”综合征的主要原因。信用卡和分期付款方案、租赁方案一起，鼓励人们更多地去消费。信用卡会使你的债务累积到你难以清偿的地步，还会让你今天把下个月的工资花光。[2]当然，只有鲁莽之人才会抵不住诱惑，去过（至少暂时性地过）一种入不敷出的生活；无疑，这种人即便没有信用卡也会设法这样过日子。

然而，广告推广活动促使人们对这种塑料小卡片的优越性有了进一步认识。有了信用卡，人们就不必携带大量现金：在紧急情况发生时，信用卡总是很有用的。所有信用卡发放机构都会按月收取利息。年息可能会高达25%；[3]然而若使用得当，用信用卡购物意味着你可以享有最多长达7周的免息期。在海外使用信用卡，款项常常需要很长时间才会从你的账户上扣除，因此，相应的免息期还可以延长。

[4]在确定用哪一类信用卡之前，对各种信用卡加以比较是值得的。有必要考虑授予的信用额度、利率（可能会有细微的差异）、信用卡使用的数量及其场所（大多数信用卡都可以在大部分汽车修理厂、酒店、饭店和百货商店使用）。当然还要考虑万一信用卡遗失或被盗会发生什么情况。尤其是如果信用卡报失延迟的话，小偷可就如同坐到一座潜在的金矿上了。

要理性地使用信用卡，需要自律，还需要一点自制力。[5]一旦你意识到自己的债务正好就是别人的利润时，你使用信用卡的方式就会改变。稍有点自制力和实际知识，你就能够驾驭你的信用卡，而不是反过来被信用卡驾驭。事实上，信用卡可以不费你任何成本，至少在你资金困难的时候还会帮助你渡过难关。

测试题

1.Many people suspect that credit cards lure people to_______________.

2.The author seems to believe that even in the absence of credit cards. some people would undoubtedly_________________.

3.In Para. 3, in addition to the advantages of no need lo carry cash and being useful in emergencies, whatelse is said to be the advantage of credit cards?

4.What is the main idea of Para.4?

5.A credit card user can control himself to take better advantage of credit card if he knows well the truth that____________________.

答案详解

1.[spend more money/use tomorrow's money/live now and pay later]
[定位]第2段第1、2句。

解析：题干中的lure是原文encouragement的同义表达，因此encouragement后的不定式为本题提供了答题依据。此外，第1句的live now pay later意思与之相近，也可为答案。

2.[live beyond their means/live now and pay later]
[定位]第2段末句。

解析：题干中的in the absence of credit cards对应原句的without credit cards，联系前半句可知原句中do so指的是live beyond their means，即为答案。

3.[Being able to enjoy the free interest in certain period]
[定位]第3段最后两句。

解析：第3段第2句首先提到了信用卡的两个优点：no need to carry cash和being useful in emergencies。第3句在提到它收取高额利息后，用yet表转折提出它的第三个优点：interest free credit,最后一句加以补充说明。

4.[What should be considered before you decide on a credit card]
[定位]第4段首句。

解析：根据主题句第1句及第2句中“It is necessary to consider...”所列举的事项可以得出结论：该段主要讲述选择信用卡时要考虑的一些因素。

5.[his debt is the bank's profit]
[定位]末段第2句。

解析：题干中的if可对应原句的once，know对应realize，故realize后的宾语从句即为题干中宾语the truth的同位语从句。正确理解该宾语从句是解题关键，原句的someone else实指银行，而银行是信用卡持有人的债主，由此答案不难得出。