Question

Credit cards let people buy things now and pay for them over months or even years.But some people get deep into debt：Some banks have terms and charges that can make it harder for people to pay off that debt.In the United States，there are calls for stronger government supervision of the credit card industry.They_offer_economic_power_at_a_price.In 2004，Americans had about $800 billion in credit card debt.Now they own about $968 billion.

Critics say banks made it too easy to get credit cards.But that may be changing.The crisis in the housing and credit they call markets is beginning to affect the credit card industry.More payments are late.Charges for late payments are a growing source of profit for banks.But late payments can also signal bad debts.

The central bank，the Federal Reserve，says two­thirds of American banks have recently reported tighter lending requirements.Many people report having their credit limits reduced without warning.

Some lawmakers are concerned that cardholders do not have enough protections from what abusive policies.These include actions like raising interest rates because of an unrelated event.Also，banks may raise the chances of a late payment by changing monthly payment dates for credit cards.

According to a survey,82% of Americans think credit cards provide a valuable service.But a majority,58%，say they do not trust credit card companies.And three out of four think the government should regulate the industry more closely.Three out of four people feel there is always some condition that makes a card less appealing than the company made in scared.And a little more than half say they have had a card that was not as good as they expected.But close to 80% say no one really reads the terms and conditions when they sign up for a credit card.

1. What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably mean?

A．We can enjoy more convenience using credit cards.

B．Credit cards can improve our buying power.

C．We can buy things at lower prices using credit cards.

D．Credit cards bring more card debt as well as convenience.

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?

A．Banks are making it harder for people to get credit cards.

B．Some people’s credit limits have been reduced.

C．It is more difficult to borrow money from some banks.

D．Banks are receiving more charges from late payments.

3. What can we know from the text?

A．Banks actually prefer to see more late payment.

B．People should be more careful when applying for a credit card.

C．The US government provides better protection for cardholders.

D．The majority of Americans don’t think much of credit cards.

4.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．Credit cards are still very well received in America.

B．Credit cards don’t live up to some people’s expectations.

C．Many people don’t believe in credit card companies.

D．The results of a survey about credit cards in Americans.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

1.

解析 根据下文“In 2004，Americans had about $800 billion in credit card debt.Now they own about $968 billion.”可知，信用卡在给人们带来方便的同时也会带来更多的信用卡债务。

2.2】 A

解析 B选项由第三段最后一句“Many people report having their credit limits reduced without warning.”可知；C选项由第三段中的“two­thirds of American banks have recently reported tighter lending requirements.”可知；D选项由第二段倒数第二句“Charges for late payments are a growing source of profit for banks.”可知；A项在文中未提及。

3.3】 B

解析 整篇文章讲的是信用卡的一些负面问题，而且由文章最后一句“But close to 80% say no one really reads the terms and conditions when they sign up for a credit card.”4可以推断出，人们在申请信用卡时应该小心。

4.4】 D

解析 这一段的开头提到了According to a survey“根据一项调查”。下面列举了几个数字及相关信息，因此我们可以总结出最后一段写的是关于美国信用卡调查的结果。