2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（35）
发布时间：2012/10/31 12:58:25 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
The potential economic benefits of financial literacy extend beyond government budgets.More informed consumers--not just investors--would increase the efficiency of markets and help keep unscrupulous sellers at bay.If financial illiteracy leads to greater debt, then increased consumption today will be at the expense of less later, as interest payments weigh on household budgets.
Once people make financial decisions, they tend to stick to them even if a change might make more sense.Watson Wyatt, a consultancy, says that about half of Britons in defined-contribution pension plans （in which retirement benefits depend on investments performance） never change the allocation of assets.One-third have not even reviewed them for several years.There is evidence that such inertia is a feature of other financial markets, including the one for mortgages.
America has had a variety of financial-education programmes for some time, generally relying on the private sector.Most large #panies and many smaller ones put on investment seminars for their employees, run by outside experts.Many of those who attend these seminars later increase their saving for retirement.
However, there is a fine line between education and advice.Although education and sales are meant to be strictly separated, many of those giving the seminars work for firms that sell financial products.Some employers have been hesitant to sponsor financial seminars for fear of being sued, notes Lynn Dudley of the American Benefits Council, a lobby group.Two bills now before Congress attempt to deal with this question.Meanwhile, a growing number of pension schemes offer lifestyle or life-cycle funds that skirt the question of advice by automatically shifting the mix of investments away from equities and towards bonds and cash as retirement nears.
Despite all the activity, experts caution against putting too much faith in financial education.This is not the silver bullet that some people think it is, says Ms Smith.No campaign can hope to reach everyone.In addition, although those with more knowledge of finance tend to save more and make higher returns on their long-term investments, the strength of the effect is not clear.
Annamaria Lusardi, an economist at Dartmouth College, and Olivia Mitchell, of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, have found that few employees attend financial seminars even when they are offered in the workplace.Scepticism about hidden sales pitches and slanted advice abounds, particularly in the wake of recent mutual-fund scandals.Workers are entitled to believe this is not an objective voice, says Ms Lusardi.Many who attend do not absorb what they hear, for want of understanding or interest.[427 words]
1.It is true that______least benefit from financial literacy.
A.dishonest sellers
B.average consumers
C.household budgets
D.government budgets
2.Financial illiteracy can be illustrated by the fact that______
A.financial literacy extends beyond government budgets
B.interest payments weigh heavily on household budgets
C.many people keep their allocation of assets unchangeable
D.about half of Britons are in defined-contribution pension plans
3.Employers usually take a negative attitude toward______
A.financial advice
B.financial products
C.investment seminars
D.financial-education programmes
4.Few people attend investment seminars since______
A.there are hidden sales pitches
B.slanted advice is usually given
C.they are afraid that they might be trapped
D.they often fail to understand what is heard there
5.The author believes that______
A.more financial knowledge means more money to make
B.more financial knowledge is needed for one' s retirement
C.more financial seminars should be put on by #panies
D.less financial seminars will be sponsored by employers[NextPage] 难句透析
①More informed consumers--not just investors--would“increase the efficiency of markets and help keep unscru— pulous sellers at bay.
【结构】本句主语是”consumers“；破折号之间的部分是对主语的补充说明。有两个并列的谓语动词”increase“和”help“。”keep…at bay“的意思是”阻止，挡住“。
【释义】不仅只是投资者，若有更多消费者具备理财知识，则会提高市场效率，并会让那些不择手段的推销者难以得逞。
②[if financial illiteracy leads to greater debt]，then increased consumption today will be at the expense of less lat— er，[as interest payments weigh on household budgets].
【结构】第一个方括号部分是”If“引导的条件状语从句。第二个方括号部分是”as“引导的原因状语从句。过去分词”increased“用做定语，修饰主语”consumption“。
【释义】如果因为不懂理财而增加了债务，那么。由于偿还利息的负担落在了家庭预算上，今天增加消费的代价就是未来要减少消费。
③[Although education and sales are meant tO be strictly separated]，many of those[giving the seminars]work for firms[that sell financial products].
【结构】第一个方括号部分是”Although“引导的让步状语从句。第二个方括号部分是后置的现在分词短语，修饰”those“。第三个方括号部分是”firms“的后置定语从句。本句主语是”many of those“，谓语动词是”work“。
【释义】虽然应把理财教育和推销产品严格分开，但是很多举办专题讨论会的人都是为销售金融产品的公司服务的。
④Meanwhile，a growing number of pension schemes offer”lifestyle“or”life-cycle“funds[that skirt the question of advice by automatically shifting the mix of investments away from equities and towards bonds and cash（as retire— ment nears）].
【结构】方括号部分是”funds“的后置定语从句。圆括号部分是动名词短语”shiftin9…“中的时间状语从句。
【释义】与此同时，越来越多的养老金规划提供的是”终生类的“或”以一生为周期的“资金储备。快退休时，这种资金储备会自动把股票类的混合投资转为债券或现金，从而回避了是否在游说的问题。
⑤Scepticism[about hidden sales pitches and slanted advice]abounds，particularly in the wake of recent mutual- fund scandals.
【结构】本句主语是”Scepticism“，谓语动词是”abounds“；后置的介词短语”about…“修饰”Scepticism“。”in the wake of“的意思是”作为…的结果“。
【释义】特别是因为最近共同基金的丑闻，人们普遍怀疑推销藏有陷阱，所提的建议带有倾向性。
⑥Many[who attend]do not absorb[what they hear]，for want of understanding or interest.
【结构】第一个方括号部分是主语”Many“的后置定语从句。第二个方括号部分是”absorb“的宾语从句。本句中的”want“是名词，意思是”缺少“。
【释义】许多参加会议的人，由于缺乏理解或兴趣，对所听的东西并不接受。 [NextPage] 全文翻译
金融知识普及所能带来的潜在经济效益不仅仅局限于政府预算之内。不仅只是投资者，若有更多消费者具备理财知识，则会提高市场效率，并会让那些不择手段的推销者难以得逞。如果因为不懂理财而增加了债务，那么，由于偿还利息的负担落在了家庭预算上，今天增加消费的代价就是未来要减少消费。
通常人们一旦做好了金融决策就会一直坚持下去，哪怕在需要修改这些决策的情况下也会坚持。名为华生。怀特的顾问称，有一半享受明限贡献养老金计划（即退休后待遇根据其所作投资的运营情况决定）的英国人从不对其资产的结构进行重分配。有三分之一的人已有多年没有重审过投资。有证据说明这种惰性也是其他金融市场的特征，包括那些接受抵押的市场。
美国建立多种多样的金融教育项目已经有一段时间了，其中多半依赖于私营企业。多数大公司和很多小商家都会为雇员安排投资理财讨论会，一般都请非本公司的专家来主持。许多人在参加这些讨论会之后，都会为自己的退休生活增加储蓄。
但是在教育和游说之间还存在一条细微的分界线。虽然应把理财教育和推销产品严格分开，但是很多举办专题讨论会的人都是为销售金融产品的公司服务的。来自议会游说组织美国福利议会的林恩。达德利指出，一些雇人单位因担心遭到起诉而不愿意举办理财讨论会。现在正有两个提交国会的议案是专门针对这一问题的。与此同时，越来越多的养老金规划提供的是“终生类的”或“以一生为周期的”资金储备。快退休时，这种资金储备会自动把股票类的混合投资转为债券或现金，从而回避了是否在游说的问题。
尽管有诸多活动被付诸实践，专家们还是对过分信任金融教育的潮流持谨慎态度。史密斯女士就认为，“这并不是大众眼中那样的银弹头。”没有哪种措施能惠及所有人。此外，尽管那些金融知识更丰富的人会储蓄更多从而在长期投资上获得更高的收益，但这样做的效果到底有多好还并不是很明确。
来自达特茅斯学院的经济学家安娜玛丽娅。卢萨迪和宾夕法尼亚大学沃顿学院的奥利维亚。米歇尔都发现，即使在上班地点召开理财讨论会实际上也没有多少人会参加。特别是因为最近共同基金的丑闻，人们普遍怀疑推销藏有陷阱，所提的建议带有倾向性……卢萨迪女士说，“员工们都先人为主地认为这些并不是客观的陈述。”许多参加会议的人，由于缺乏理解或兴趣，对所昕的东西并不接受。
超纲词汇
bond n.公债，债券，合同
Equity n.股票，证券，产权；（pl.）公司普通股
in the wake of尾随，紧跟，仿效
keep at bay阻止，挡住，牵制，不使逼近
pitch n.（推销员的）推销方式
skirt vt.避开，回避（问题、事物、困难等）
slant vt.使…倾斜（弄斜）
unscrupulous adj.寡廉鲜耻的
参考答案：1.A 2.C 3.A 4.C 5.B
