Question

Taxpayers(纳税人) in America pay less in income tax than many Europeans, according to a Pew Research Center report. Belgium has the highest income tax rate, at nearly 56 percent of income, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. Taxpayers in the U.S. pay less than 36 percent of their incomes into the national treasury. Taxes pay for services provided by the government. The U.S. ranks 25 of the 34 developed countries polled in the report.

An unmarried person with no children was used as an example in the report. In America, an unmarried person, with no children, making the average wage of $50,000 in 2014 paid 24.8 percent of their income in federal (联邦的) income tax and payroll taxes (工资税). A similar person living in Belgium would pay 42.3 percent of their income. The average among the 39 countries in the poll was 27.3 percent income tax.

The deadline to pay taxes in America is usually April 15. This year, the deadline is April 18. American taxpayers complain that wealthy people and large companies pay too little tax, according to a Pew Research Center poll from 2015.

Americans pay tax to fund programs like Social Security and Medicaid, according to the Pew Research Center. Last year, American taxes paid for $888 billion in Social Security benefits. Social Security pays the elderly an income after they stop working. The government also paid more than $546 billion in Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Those programs pay for health and medical care to people who cannot afford it, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

1.According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The income tax rate of America ranks 25 of the world.

B. No countries in the world have a higher income tax than that in Belgium.

C. Taxpayers in America pay more in income tax than many Europeans.

D. The deadline to pay taxes in America is usually between April 15 and April 18

2. The majority of people benefiting from the taxes in America are ________.

A. wealthy people and corporations

B. unmarried people

C. married couples

D. the elderly retirees

3.How is Passage 2 mainly developed?

A. By showing differences       B. By analyzing causes

C. By describing process         D. By explanations

4.The author mainly wants to tell us ________.

A. how Americans use their taxes

B. how much do Americans pay their taxes

C. that Americans pay less income tax than many others

D. that many people are complaining about the taxes

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析： 根据研究发现，美国纳税人比欧洲其他国家交的税都少。缴税最后期限一般在4月15日左右，主要是缴纳社会保险和医疗。退休的老年人一般可以领取这方面的补助。

1.B 推理判断题。根据Belgium has the highest income tax rate可知，比利时人的收入税最高。故选B。

2.D 细节理解题。 根据Social Security pays the elderly an income after they stop working.可知，美国的税收大部分支出是给退休的老年人。故选D。

3.A 推理判断题。第二段是通过对比看出，美国人的个人所得税和比利时以及世界39个国家在个税方面的平均数相比较，美国人纳税最少。故选A。

4.C 主旨大意题。 本文介绍了美国人所缴纳的个税和其他国家相比是较少的。故选C。

考点：考查科普类短文阅读。