四级冲刺练习阅读（1）

　　Directions: In this passage, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage

　　quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.

　　For questions 1-7, mark

　　Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given

　　in the passage; N ({for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in

　　the passage; NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage. For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

　　How to Buy a Used Car

　　Nearly everybody buys a used car sooner or later, as a primary vehicle or as a second car. Indeed(当然), three out of four sales today are used cars, and theyre not cheap junkers (废物)either the average price now is $ 5500, about half what a new car costs. Make the wrong selection and a major investment (投资)can be lost the moment you drive off the lot.

　　There is far less chance of this happening to you if you know: when to buy, where to buy, how to examine (仔细检查) the car, how to conduct (进行) your own road test, and how to bargain over (讲价)the price.

　　When to buy

　　Shop during the day. Lighting makes cars gleam (V 闪光)like jewels (宝石)at night. In daylight they look dull (黯淡的), but realistic.

　　Dont shop in the rain. It can mask(掩盖) liquids (液体) that might be leaking (泄漏). If possible, shop in the winter when supplies are high and demand (需求)is low.

　　Where to buy

　　Shop the suburbs. In more affluent (富有的)neighbourhoods cars are more likely to have been well cared for.

　　A private owner normally sells a car for less than a dealer does, but almost always as is, with no guarantee(质量保证). Thats an acceptable risk if what youre looking for is a cheap second car to drive to the station.

　　Even though a used-car dealer generally charges more, you can often get some type of limited guarantee. This is often a 50-50 plan, in which you each pay half on repairs for a period (一段时间)that may range from 30 days to a year. Ask the dealer about the availability of an optional(可选择的) service policy.

　　Used-car dealers often claim (声称)to have gone over (仔细查看)the car, and many have. But remember that small dealers often buy cars that are auctioned because nobody else wants them.

　　Some experts feel that a new-car dealer is the best place to buy a secondhand car, especially if youre laying out a large sum (一笔金钱) for a late model. Some of these dealers offer extensive (广阔的)guarantees, such as one on the drive train, which covers any problems with engine (发动机), transmission ， drive shaft and differential . Expect to pay for this, as well as for the markup (标高的价格). But if you shop soon after the new models have arrived, when a dealer has a lot of trade-ins tying up his profits, he might deal. The visual examination (视觉上的检查)