2018年自学考试《英语(一)》提升练习（十四）

 　　In Western countries people have been using the installment plan since first half of the twentieth century. a large number of families in Great Britain buy furniture, household goods and cars by installment. 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 installment is always higher than the price that would be paid by cash. There is a charge for interest. The buyer 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 couple 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 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 and each of the following installments to discourage people from buying more than they can pay for on the installment plan.

　　51. Which of the following families Not use the installment plan?

　　a.A lot of British families us the installment plan?

　　b. More than 10 percent American families buy things on installments.

　　c. Americans spend more on installment than British people do.

　　d. Americans spend one tenth of their income on installment buying.

　　52. 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.

　　53. What will happen to a buyer if he full payment for an item.

　　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.

　　54. The advantage of installment buying might include all the followingEXCEPT that .

　　a. purchasing power is strengthened

　　b. employment might be increased

　　c. people develop are able to furnish their homes.

　　d. young couples are able to furnish their homes.

　　55.In some countries, the governments control 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.