Survey after survey indicates that one of our biggest worries in retirement is running out of money. More than a third of retired investors and half who aren’t retired said they worry they will run out of money and be forced to depend on Social Security as their main income source, according to a Wells Fargo-Gallup survey.
You might think that it would make people save more. But few of us even know how much we need to save for a comfortable retirement. However, one way people can feel better about retirement is to start out with as little debt as possible. And that leads us to a question many financial planners are asked by pre-retirees: Should you pay off that mortgage(房贷) before you retire? Unlike many areas of retirement planning, there is no easy answer to this question. The simplest answer is: It depends.
“It’s very dependent on the actual individual,” says Jimmy Lee, chief executive of the Wealth Consulting Group in Las Vegas. “The people who have more reliable sources of income may be more suited to carrying a mortgage,” he says. “Interest rates are a big factor. In today’s low-interest environment, it would make sense to carry a mortgage if your mortgage rate is under 4 percent and you can get an investment rate of 6 percent.”
Mitch Katz, financial adviser and partner at Capital Associates in Bethesda, says having that mortgage paid off helps some people sleep at night. “It’s kind of an emotional thing more than a financial thing,” Katz says. “At the end of the day, financially it makes more sense to not pay off the mortgage. But that’s easy to say in theory and harder in practice.”
“We can control only what we can control,” he says. “You can go to the gym and eat healthy, and walk outside and get hit by a bus. We can’t control that. But, paying off a mortgage, it gives you the ability to pay off other things. Emotionally, it’s very powerful.”
1.How will those depending on Social Security probably feel?
A.Proud B.Awkward
C.Hopeful D.Ignorant
2.What benefit might worry in retirement bring?
A.It may result in more savings. B.It leads to a wiser investment.
C.It will reduce the mortgage greatly. D.It ensures a comfortable retirement.
3.What’s Jimmy Lee’s advice for those carrying a mortgage?
A.Ask financial planners for suggestions.
B.Pay off the mortgage before retirement.
C.Seek new investment opportunities after retirement.
D.Balance the mortgage against the investment return.
4.What does Mitch Katz’s answer focus on?
A.Interest rates B.Mental burden
C.Social changes D.Financial theory
It was the week before Christmas, and the line at the post office snaked twice around the lobby(大厅). It seemed that no one was moving. The office looked like an exhibit in the Postal Wax Museum. I came to the self-service machine where the line was much shorter.
I don’t like self-service. I tell people it’s because I don’t approve of taking jobs away from people, but the real problem is that I’m not good at it. The machine always asks me something I don’t know the answer to. I hate this. I am a retired letter carrier, and we moved mail in the old-fashioned way hand to hand, human to human. We were fast, friendly, and frequently accurate.
The woman in the front of the line was clicking away at the screen. And the clicks were surprisingly loud. Any signs of hesitation on her part were telegraphed to the whole lobby. I felt sorry for her: The machine could smell fear. The next person took a long time, too. I breathed deeply. By the time it was my turn, I had the heart rate of a yogi(瑜伽修行者).
Under the weight of concern from the people in line behind me, I felt a growing obligation to minimize the seconds between clicks. Finally it was time to slide in a credit card. The machine didn’t take it. “Try putting it in the other way” the gentleman behind me suggested. No good.
“I’ve got a different card,” I said, and fished around for that one, beginning to sweat. The machine wanted a PIN, but not the one I suggested.
“Start over.” I clicked, intending to try the first card again.
Oh no. I had to start all over again.
“I’ m sorry,” I said, looking back, sheepish. “I guess I don't know what I’m doing. You all go ahead.”
“Don’t give up,” said the nice man behind me. “Try it again. We’re all friends here, right?”
Smiles were blooming all down the line. I tried again, clicked with deliberation and sincerity, and introduced my credit card as though I were presenting it to the queen. Finally, I made it!
I couldn’t have been happier. Everyone burst into applause. Comfort and joy!
1.What do we know about the post office?
A.It was pretty large. B.Something went wrong there.
C.It was very busy at Christmas. D.Efficient services were provided.
2.While waiting for his turn, the author was .
A.a little excited B.totally relaxed
C.bored and impatient D.nervous and anxious
3.What does the underlined word “sheepish” in Paragraph 8 mean?
A.Grateful B.Surprised
C.Embarrassed D.Determined
4.What did the man behind the author do?
A.He rushed the author. B.He laughed at the author.
C.He mailed for the author. D.He encouraged the author.
Author Talks &Lectures in the Toronto Public Library
Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition
Thu Apr 27, 2019
1:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Watson on the epic hunt for the lost Franklin Expedition and the rare mix of marine science and Inuit knowledge that led to the shipwreck’s (海难的) recent discovery.
No registration required.
Toronto 1910: Tales of Our Past: Clergy and Convicts
Tue May 02, 2019
12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m.
Location: Barbara Frum
Learn about your city’s history and participate in reading and slide show featuring excerpts(节选) from a new historical fiction novel series.
To register, please call 416-395-5440.
Beneath the African Sun with Author Maria Lynch
Wed May 03, 2019
7:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Location: Bloor/Gladstone
Join us for a book talk and Q &A with Maria Lynch, the author of Beneath the African Sun. Beneath the African Sun is a migrant’s story about moving from Portuguese India to British East Africa during the early 20th century. More than a history, it is a story about family, home, social justice and what it means to truly belong somewhere.
Drop in. No registration required.
The Science of Shakespeare
Wed May 10, 2019
7:00 p.m. —8:00 p.m.
Location: Beaches
William Shakespeare lived in the first stage of the scientific revolution. New ideas about the human body, the earth, and the universe were transforming western thought—and—yet “Shakespeare” and “science” are rarely talked about in the same breath. Dan Falk will explore Shakespeare’s interest in the scientific discoveries of his time—asking what he knew, when he knew it, and how that knowledge is reflected in his works.
No registration necessary.
1.Where can you hear a lecture by a Pulitzer-Prize winner?
A.Beaches. B.City Hall.
C.Barbara Frum. D.Bloor/Gladstone.
2.For which event do you need to register?
A.The Science of Shakespeare.
B.Beneath the African Sun with Author Maria Lynch.
C.Toronto 1910: Tales of Our Past: Clergy and Convicts.
D.Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition.
3.What can be inferred from the last lecture?
A.Shakespeare was interested in the universe.
B.Science is touched upon in Shakespeare’s works.
C.The scientific revolution changed Shakespeare’s thought.
D.Shakespeare had a deep understanding of the scientific revolution.
Directions: Write an English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
假设你是陈芳。你的好友王敏是新华中学的学生，下个月将去英国的姐妹校交流访问。王敏想拍摄一个短片，向英国的同学和老师介绍自己的学校。她通过邮件向你征求意见。写一封回信，内容须包括:
1、短片的主题以及与之匹配的主要内容；
2、你选择这些内容的理由。
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Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
1.我家门口的街道成天车水马龙。(crowd)
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2.中国女排成功卫冕世界冠军，给全国人民以极大的鼓舞。(succeed)
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3.本次“城市公共交通周”的活动旨在提高公众节能环保的意识。(aim)
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4.我实在想不通为什么大伙儿都觉得他这个人高不可攀，我印象中他挺和蔼可亲的。(strike)
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Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
The Decline of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the range of living things in an area. During the last 100 years, scientists have seen a great decline in biodiversity. Some studies show that one in eight plant species is threatened with extinction. It is estimated that 140,000 species of plants are lost each year.
Most of the extinctions in the last thousand years are due to humans. The main cause is the chopping down of tropical rain forests. Most of this destruction is done to create pasture (牧场) for beef cattle. Many rainforests in Central and South America have been burnt down to make way for cattle farming, which supplies beef to the rest of the world. It is estimated that for each pound of beef produced, 200 square feet of rainforest are destroyed. The forests are also cut down to make wheat for bread as well as fruit for human consumption.
The introduction of exotic (外来的) species is another threat. The latest research from the University of Southampton has revealed the impact of exotic species upon native wildlife, which could potentially lead to the extinctions of local species. When exotic species are introduced to a place, they try to establish a self-sustaining population. While the local species, which haven’t had a chance to evolve, often lack defenses and thus cannot compete against the exotic species.
The disappearance of certain food animals can be disastrous not only to larger animals but also to the entire ecosystem. It is these small creatures which convert much of the energy in an ecosystem from unusable (i.e. microscopic plants, decaying matter, etc.) into usable forms, namely their bodies. Their absence makes most energy and nutrients trapped in forms unusable to other species. This makes the environment less suitable for healthy living, and less capable of producing resources that humans need.
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