Question

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.

1.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.

2.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

3.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

4.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

5.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

Answer 1

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.C

5.D

【解析】

試題分析：文章介紹在西方國家，從二十世紀上半期人們一直在使用按揭貸款。在一些國家控制按揭貸款的計劃，目的確保人們能夠償還他們買東西的欠款。

1.1】C細節理解題。根據第一段第三句In the U.S., the figure is much higher than in Great Britain,美國比英國的辦理分期付款的人多。故選C。

2.2】A細節理解題。根據第二段第一、二句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.買方必須支付額外的錢作為利息。故答案為A。

3.3】B細節理解題。根據第二段最后一句The legal ownership of the goods remains with the seller until the final payment has been made.貨物的法定所有權屬于賣方直到最后全款結清。故選B。

4.4】C細節理解題。根據最后一段中的It increases the demand for goods,可知A符合原文；in this way helps business and employment可知B項符合原文；It can help couples with small incomes to furnish their homes and start housekeeping可知D項符合原文，因此可知原文沒有提到C項的內容，故選C。

5.5】D細節理解題。根據文章最后一句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.目的確保人們能夠償還他們買東西的欠款。故選D。

考點：考查說明文閱讀。