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　　Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still reg

　　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. Of course, it is only the foolhardy who yield 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 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-free credit. Using the 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; the number and range of outlets, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen. A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card.

　　However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty.

　　26. Which of the following can not make you spend more money?

　　A. Credit cards. B. Hire-purchase.

　　C. Rental and leasing schemes. D. None of the above is right.

　　27. The foolhardy are people who_______.

　　A. spend more money than they have B. spend less money than other people C. save money D. make money

　　28. The disadvantage of credit cards is_______.

　　A. to enable you to buy things without carrying large amount of cash

　　B. to encourage people to spend more money

　　C. to be always useful in emergencies

　　D. to help people tide over a period of financial difficulty

　　29. According to the passage, credit cards are made of_______.

　　A. paper B. gold

　　C. plastic D. tin

　　30. Deciding on a particular credit, you do not have to consider______.

　　A. the amount of credit granted

　　B. the number and range of outlets

　　C. the possibility of loss of money

　　D. the department stores where you are going to use your credit cards

　　答案: 26. D 27. A 28. B 29. C 30. D

　　When we think of Hollywood mdash;a term I use loosely to describe American movie production in gener

　　When we think of Hollywood a term I use loosely to describe American movie production in general, not simply films made in Los Angeles we think of films aimed at amusing audiences and making money for producers.

　　During the early years of the new century, as workers won their demands for higher wages and a shorter working week, leisure assumed an increasingly important role in everyday life. Amusement parks, professional baseball games, nickelodeons ((美)门票一律5分的 无分戏院 (电影院)), and dance halls attracted a wide array of men and women anxious to spend their hard earned dollars in the pursuit of fun and relaxation. Yet of all these new cultural endeavors, films were the most important and widely attended source of amusement. For a mere five or ten cents, even the poorest worker could afford to take himself and his family to the local ickelodeon or storefront theatre. Taking root in urban working-class and immigrant neighborhoods, cinemas soon spread to middle-class districts of cities and into small communities throughout the nation. Every little town that has never been able to afford and maintain an opera house, observed one journalist in 1908, now boasts one or two Bijou Dreams. By 1910 the appeal of films was so great that nearly one-third of the nation flocked to the cinema each week; ten years later, weekly attendance equaled 50 percent of the nations population.

　　Early films were primarily aimed at entertaining audiences, but entertainment did not always come in the form of escapist fantasies. Many other issues were also portrayed on the screen. Between 1900 and 1917, observes Kevin Brownlow, literally thousands of films dealt with the most pressing problems of the day white slavery, political corruption, gangsterism, loansharking, slum landlords, capital vs. labor, racial prejudice, etc. While most of these films were produced by studios and independent companies, a significant number were made by what we might call today special interest groups . As films quickly emerged as the nations most popular form of mass entertainment, they attracted the attention of a wide range of organizations, which recognized the mediums enormous potential for disseminating propaganda to millions of viewers.

　　26. Hollywood may not be used to describe_______.

　　A. American movie production in general

　　B. films nfade in Los Angeles

　　C. an area in Los Angeles, famous because many popular films have been produced there

　　D. films aimed at amusing audiences and making money for them

　　27. It may be inferred from the passage that _______.

　　A. most of the film-goers were working people

　　B. films were more interesting than professional baseball games

　　C. people were eager to spend their money on amusement and relaxation

　　D. films were the most important and widely enjoyed amusement

　　28. Bijou Dreams in the 2nd paragraph probably refers to_______.

　　A. opera houses B. amusement parks

　　C. cinemas D. small and pretty places

　　29. It can be concluded from the last paragraph that_______.

　　A. many of the social and political problems were reflected on the screen of the films

　　B. films often dealt with the most important problems of the day

　　C. films quickly became a very popular form of entertainment

　　D. because of the large attendance, films had a great influence on a large number of people

　　30. The passage is about_______.

　　A. the term Hollywood B. American movie production

　　C. the history and function of the film D. the early films

　　答案：26. D 27. A 28. C 29. D 30. C