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.C

2.A

3.B

4.C

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍在西方国家，从二十世纪上半期人们一直在使用按揭贷款。在一些国家控制按揭贷款的计划，目的确保人们能够偿还他们买东西的欠款。

1.1】C细节理解题。根据第一段第三句In the U.S., the figure is much higher than in Great Britain,美国比英国的办理分期付款的人多。故选C。

2.2】A细节理解题。根据第二段第一、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.买方必须支付额外的钱作为利息。故答案为A。

3.3】B细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句The legal ownership of the goods remains with the seller until the final payment has been made.货物的法定所有权属于卖方直到最后全款结清。故选B。

4.4】C细节理解题。根据最后一段中的It increases the demand for goods,可知A符合原文；in this way helps business and employment可知B项符合原文；It can help couples with small incomes to furnish their homes and start housekeeping可知D项符合原文，因此可知原文没有提到C项的内容，故选C。

5.5】D细节理解题。根据文章最后一句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.目的确保人们能够偿还他们买东西的欠款。故选D。

考点：考查说明文阅读。