英語四級基礎(chǔ)閱讀訓(xùn)練 Text 1

Text 1

Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

Ten Tips for Saving Money in College

College can be an expensive endeavor, even with scholarships and other kinds of financial aid. It's difficult enough balancing a class schedule—the thought of balancing a check book, on the other hand, can strike fear into the hearts of even the most studious mathematicians. Everything from textbooks, food, transportation, supplies and entertainment—these will all cost you money. There's no getting around it. However, there are easy ways to save. Here are several ways to avoid the constant panic of going broke:

Buy Textbooks from Used Bookstores

New textbooks from university bookstores can be very expensive. Brand new editions of chemistry books, for instance, can cost as much as $300, and that's not including any lab material. However, you can cut costs on reading materials and not starve. Look around for used bookstores. Most college campuses should have several－the prices are heavily discounted, and book conditions are usually good. If you have enough time before classes start, check out the Internet for your books. Even with shipping charges, prices can turn out to be cheaper from online bookstores. And don't forget－some of your friends might have taken a course in the past. Ask around and see if you can borrow from someone.

Seek Alternative Transportation

Instead of driving to class and spending money on gas, parking passes and possible tickets, look into a local bus or subway system. If the system is run by your university, you'll probably be able to ride for free with a student ID.If a transportation system doesn't exist (or the existing one isn't safe or reliable), try to work out class schedules with friends and carpool. If you're close enough, walk or bike to class and get some much-needed exercise.

Choose the Right Meal Plan

Campus meal plans vary depending on the university—food quality, how often you eat, how much you eat, and location are all factors. A meal plan can be a good deal, however, so do a little research and see if it's worth it. Grab a brochure; ask meal plan veterans; anything to get a little taste. Some universities offer off-campus meal plans, too. These usually involve deals with food chains, so make sure the plan is appealing to you. If you decide to skip out on a meal plan, it's possible to eat enough and eat healthy on your own budget. Cut out coupons, buy in bulk and sign up for a shopper's discount card. Be creative and plan dinners with roommates and friends instead of going to more expensive restaurants.

Set Up a Student Checking Account

Banks usually cater to college students by offering free checking and savings accounts, allowing you to avoid fees on withdrawal（取款）, fund transfers or the minimum amount allowed in the account. Make sure online banking is an option, as this makes it easier to follow your activity. Keep track of your account—over-drafting（透支）will only cost you more in fees. So, do what it takes to stay out of the red as much as possible.

Get Organized

It might seem like a hassle, but saving receipts of everything you purchase—from small items such as a candy bar or a CD, to big-ticket items like a new computer—is a great way to monitor your spending habits. Try it out for a month. When your thirty days are up, add up all of your expenses and see where your money went. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to cut back on unnecessary spending.

Be Creative with Your Leisure Time

Everyone needs to unwind after studying, and college campuses typically offer all sorts of opportunities-movie theaters, bars, cafes, arts centres, parks, downtown shopping centres, et cetera. Ask if any of these places offer student discounts. You can also think of alternative ways to have a good time. If you make the right choices and use a bit of creativity, you can have fun and save money at the same time. Plan a picnic in the park; make dinner for a date instead of going to a fancy restaurant; go for a bike ride around town; play Frisbee golf on campus. Any of these activities cost a fraction of the typical college experience and can be more fun.

Find a Job

If you can fit it into your busy class schedule, a part-time job is a great way to bring in some extra income and give you some more flexibility with your spending. Waiting tables or delivering food can bring in great tips, and college-town restaurants are almost always looking for new help. A great way to earn some money and get some studying done is to work at your university's library. It's not a very demanding job and is usually quiet, so you can read for class and get paid at the same time.

Get the Right Cell Phone Plan

It's difficult to get by without a cell Phone today, but with a little research you can find an affordable plan that fits your needs. If they're up for it, join a family cell phone plan with your parents. It's usually much cheaper for everyone involved than having separate plans. If you're on your own, check out websites that offer side-by-side comparison charts of different cell phone plans. You should also avoid text messaging. Before you know it, you could rack up hundreds of dollars worth of texts when you could have communicated the same information for much less. Remember, phone companies charge both the sender and receiver of text messages, so let your friends know if you don't want them to text you five times every class. Send out e-mails or use free networking websites like Myspace or Facebook.

Smart Apartment Living

If you're not living in the dorms, split the rent with a few roommates. When thinking about appliances, see if your apartment complex provides a refrigerator, a washer and dryer, a microwave, and other handy accessories. If your parents or friends have any old appliances lying around, ask them if they'd be willing to part with them. Electricity, water and heating bills can be costly, so do your best to conserve—turn off lights when you're not in the room, use as little water as possible by taking fast showers and use heat sparingly.

Look Out for Scholarships

If you're applying for college right now or thinking about transferring to another school, it doesn't hurt to do some research on various types of financial aid provided by the school. Aside from the obvious chunk of cash you'll save in the long run, several scholarships offer all sorts of perks（補貼）and benefits—semester stipends, group trips, special access to useful resources, et cetera. If you're already enrolled but haven't received any aid, keep trying! If your grades are good and, you show you mean business, many scholarship programs give you the opportunity to apply each semester.

1.According to the passage, which at the following is NOT necessary for college students to buy since they cost too much money?

A.Reference books.　　B.Brand new textbooks.

C.Reading materials.　　D.New editions.

2.If no transportation system exists in a university, to save money on transportation, the college students should______.

A.drive to class and spend money on gas　　B.ride for free with a student ID

C.work out class schedules with friends　　D.walk or bike to class

3.Which of the following can make college students eat enough and eat healthy on their own budget?

A.To grab a brochure.　　　　　B.To asking meal plan veterans.

C.Not to stick on a meal plan.　　D.To have shopper's discount card.

4.A college student should notice his or her account because______.

A.banks offer free checking and saving accounts　　B.banks allow a student to avoid fees on withdrawals

C.it is easier to follow your activity　　　　　　　D.over-drafting will cost more in fees

5.The purpose of encouraging students to collect receipts of every purchase is to______.

A.help them avoid unnecessary fees　B.monitor their spending habits

C.add up all expenses　　　　　　D.see where their money went

6.If a college student doesn't want to spend money on typical campus leisure, how to have fun and at the same time to save money?

A.Unwind after studying.　　B.Ask if the place offers student discount.

C.Create some activities.　　D.Go to a fancy restaurant.

7.Why working at a university's library is better than waiting tables or delivering food?

A.College student can earn more money.　B.College student can bring in great tips.

C.College student can help others.　　　D.College student can read for class and meanwhile get paid.

8.To communicate the same information, sending out e-mail or using free networking web sites is much cheaper than________________________________________.

9.A good way to save apartment living bills is to ask whether your parents or friends want to give you their_______________________________________________.

10.College students with good academic achievements and poor financial background have chances to apply for__________________________________________.

1.【答案】B

【解析】本題考查分析判斷能力。見第二段第二、三句“Brand new editions of chemistry books, for instance, can cost as much as $300, and that's not including any lab material. However, you can cut costs on reading materials and not starve.”通過這句話可知，嶄新版本的化學(xué)課本會花掉你300美元，那還不包括任何實驗用的教材。但是，你可以在買閱讀材料上削減開支而且不必餓肚子。據(jù)此判斷，答案是B。

2.【答案】C

【解析】本題考查分析判斷能力。見第三段第三句“If a transportation system doesn't exist (or the existing one isn't safe or reliable), try to work out class schedules with friends and carpool.”通過這句話可知，如果那里無車可乘（或現(xiàn)有的車存在安全問題或不可靠），那就和朋友們組織起來制定班級行車表，合伙用車。據(jù)此判斷，答案是C。

3.【答案】C

【解析】本題考查分析判斷能力。見第四段第六句“If you decide to skip out on a meal plan, it's possible to eat enough and eat healthy on your own budget.”通過這句話可知，如果你決定放棄校方提供的餐飲計劃，也可以花自己的錢，在預(yù)算范圍內(nèi)吃飽吃好。據(jù)此判斷，答案是C。

4.【答案】D

【解析】本題考查分析判斷能力。見第五段第三句“Keep track of your account—over-drafting（透支）will only cost you more in fees.”通過這句話可知，要及時了解自己的賬戶余額——因為透支只會使你花更多的錢。據(jù)此判斷，答案是D。

5.【答案】B

【解析】本題考查分析判斷能力。見第六段首句“It might seem like a hassle, but saving receipts of everything you purchase—from small items such as a candy bar or a CD, to big-ticket items like a new computer—is a great way to monitor your spending habits.”通過這句話可知，這看上去似乎很麻煩，但是，保存所有開銷的數(shù)據(jù)是監(jiān)控你的開銷習(xí)慣的一個很好方式。據(jù)此判斷，答案是B。

6.【答案】C

【解析】本題考查分析判斷能力。依據(jù)第七段第四句“If you make the right choices and use a bit of creativity, you can have fun and save money at the same time.”和第七段最后一句“Any of these activities cost a fraction of the typical college experience and can be more fun.”通過這兩段話可知，如果選擇正確，再用一點創(chuàng)造力，就可以享樂和省錢并舉。與那些典型的校園活動相比，所有這些活動僅花費一點點錢，但也許會帶來更多樂趣。據(jù)此判斷，答案是C。

7.【答案】D

【解析】本題考查分析判斷能力。見第八段第二至第四句“Waiting tables or delivering food can bring in great tips, and college-town restaurants are almost always looking for new help. A great way to earn some money and get some studying done is to work at your university's library. It's not a very demanding job and is usually quiet, so you can read for class and get paid at the same time.”通過這段話可知，做侍應(yīng)生或運送食物的工作會帶來豐厚的小費，而大學(xué)圖書館的工作讓你拿到工錢的同時還給你看書學(xué)習(xí)之便。據(jù)此判斷，答案是D。

8.【答案】text messaging

【解析】依據(jù)第九段最后三句“You should also avoid text messaging. Before you know it, you could rack up hundreds of dollars worth of texts when you could have communicated the same information for much less. Remember, phone companies charge both the sender and receiver of text messages, so let your friends know if you don't want them to text you five times every class. Send out e-mails or use free networking websites like Myspace or Facebook.”通過這段話可知，答案是text messaging。

9.【答案】old appliances

【解析】依據(jù)第九個小標(biāo)題下第三句“If your parents or friends have any old appliances lying around, ask them if they'd be willing to part with them.”此句話是說，如果你的父母或朋友有閑置的舊電器，就問問他們你可否使用。據(jù)此判斷，答案是old appliances。

10.【答案】many scholarship programs

【解析】依據(jù)第十個小標(biāo)題下末句“If your grades are good and you show you mean business, many scholarship programs give you the opportunity to apply each semester.”通過這段話可知，成績好的學(xué)生可以申請獎學(xué)金。據(jù)此判斷，答案是many scholarship programs。

參考譯文

大學(xué)省錢十要訣

即便有獎學(xué)金和其他資金援助，上大學(xué)還是一項巨大的開支。在學(xué)習(xí)與開銷間找到平衡很不容易。有時最好學(xué)的數(shù)學(xué)家們一想到需要保持開支平衡就心虛不已。所有的一切——從教材、食物、交通、供給到娛樂——都需要花錢。你根本沒辦法繞過它，不過有些簡單的辦法可以幫你省錢。下面介紹了一些方法能夠幫助你避免陷入破產(chǎn)的恐懼中：

在二手書店買教材

大學(xué)書店中的教材有可能非常貴。比如：嶄新版本的化學(xué)課本會花掉你300美元，那還不包括實驗用教材。但是，你可以在買閱讀材料上削減開支而且不必餓肚子。你應(yīng)該去找找二手書店。大多數(shù)大學(xué)中都應(yīng)該有幾個二手書店，店內(nèi)書的價格打折很多，書本的狀況也不錯。如果在開課前還有足夠的時間，就上網(wǎng)查找你要的書。從網(wǎng)上書店買的書價格比較便宜，即使算上運費，也比較合算。對了，別忘了——你的朋友們也許過去上過同樣的課，去問問他們看是否能從誰那里借到課本。

尋找恰當(dāng)?shù)慕煌ǚ绞?/p>

最好不要駕車上課，把錢花在汽油、停車費和一些罰單上。你應(yīng)該查看一下當(dāng)?shù)氐钠嚭偷罔F網(wǎng)絡(luò)圖。如果有車是你的大學(xué)運營的，你很可能可以憑學(xué)生證免費乘車。如果你們那里無車可乘（或現(xiàn)有的車存在安全問題或不可靠），那就和朋友們組織一起來制定班級行車表，幾個人一組搭車或者拼車上學(xué)。如果你住在學(xué)校附近，就步行或騎自行車上學(xué)，還能夠鍛煉身體。

選擇合適的飲食計劃

受到食物的質(zhì)量、個人校內(nèi)餐飲的次數(shù)、個人的飯量及餐飲的場所等因素的影響，各個大學(xué)校園的飲食計劃標(biāo)準(zhǔn)不同。校園餐飲費會花掉你一大筆錢，你得研究一下，看看這筆錢花得值不值。找一本菜品小冊子，問問經(jīng)驗豐富的老手，找機會嘗嘗菜等。有些大學(xué)提供校園外餐飲服務(wù)，通常與校外食品供應(yīng)商或餐館合作。你得查明這些餐飲計劃是否符合你的要求。如果你決定放棄校方提供的餐飲計劃，也可以花自己的錢，在預(yù)算范圍內(nèi)吃飽吃好。收集優(yōu)惠券，買食品要大量購進(jìn)，并要使用商家發(fā)的折扣卡。要富有創(chuàng)造性，與室友和朋友們一起做晚餐，不要去餐館，那里的餐價要貴得多。

開設(shè)學(xué)生儲蓄賬戶

為了迎合大學(xué)生，銀行通常向大學(xué)生提供免費的活期和定期存款的服務(wù)，大學(xué)生們?nèi)″X和轉(zhuǎn)賬方面可以免費，銀行還允許大學(xué)生的賬戶留有最低存款額。你應(yīng)該確保網(wǎng)上銀行的使用，因為網(wǎng)上銀行使你的各種操作活動變得更為容易。要及時了解自己的賬戶余額——因為透支只會使你花更多的錢。因此，一定要竭力使自己的賬戶留有余額。

要條理化

這也許顯得有點嘮叨，但保存所以開銷的收據(jù)對監(jiān)測你的開銷習(xí)慣有極大幫助，小至一塊糖或一片CD，大到一臺新電腦不等。試著將這些收據(jù)攢上一個月。一個月到期時，把所有花掉的錢加起來，并看看這些錢都用到了什么地方。你肯定會驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn)，消減不必要的開支原來這么容易。

創(chuàng)造性地利用閑暇時間

學(xué)習(xí)之后大家都需要放松一下，大學(xué)校園里的活動多種多樣，典型的活動包括看電影、泡吧或咖啡廳、到藝術(shù)中心放松、逛公園、到繁華地帶的購物中心購物等等。詢問這些地方是否提供學(xué)生優(yōu)惠活動?；蛘吣憧梢赃x擇其他方式來度過一段美好時光。如果你選擇正確，再用一點創(chuàng)造力，就可以享樂和省錢并舉。在公園中搞個野餐活動，約會時共同做一頓晚餐而不是去高檔餐廳，去進(jìn)行環(huán)城自行車旅行，在校園里玩飛盤等。與那些典型的校園活動相比，所有這些活動僅花費一點點錢，但也許會帶來更多樂趣。

找份工作

如果你學(xué)有余力的話，就可以找份兼職工作，既能帶來額外收入又能讓你在花錢方面稍有彈性。做侍應(yīng)生或運送食物的工作會帶來豐厚的小費，學(xué)校和城里的餐館也總是人手不夠。有一份兼職工作能讓你掙錢和學(xué)習(xí)兩不誤，那就是在大學(xué)圖書館工作。這項工作的要求并不高，工作環(huán)境安靜，所以你既能看書學(xué)習(xí)又能拿到工錢。

制定合理的電話開銷計劃

如今沒有手機寸步難行，但是你稍做研究調(diào)查就會找到負(fù)擔(dān)得起的方案。如果可行，參加家庭手機計劃，與你父母共同分擔(dān)花銷。通常來說大家都使用同一方案比各用各的節(jié)省得多。如果你是單獨的，那就上網(wǎng)查詢關(guān)于不同手機定制使用的比較。你還應(yīng)避免使用短信。也許你的短信費都積累上好幾百美元，而你還不知道呢。而本來你可以花少得多的錢傳送同樣多的信息。記住，電話公司是雙向收取短信費的，一條短信既向發(fā)送者收錢，又向收信者收錢。因此告訴你的朋友不要每節(jié)課都給你發(fā)好幾條短信。向大家傳送信息時使用電子信件或通過免費的網(wǎng)站發(fā)送，如Myspace或 Facebook。

明智的公寓生活

如果你不是住宿舍，那就和室友分擔(dān)租金。說到電器，看看你們租的公寓是否提供冰箱、洗碗機、烘干機、微波爐和其他有用的電器。如果你的父母或朋友有閑置的舊電器，就問問他們你可否使用。公寓中水、電、供暖的開銷昂貴，所以要盡可能節(jié)約——不在屋里的時候要關(guān)燈，盡可能地少使用水，洗澡時要簡單快洗，節(jié)約使用供暖。

留心各種獎學(xué)金

如果你現(xiàn)在正在申請大學(xué)或正在考慮轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)，有必要查看該學(xué)校提供的各種資金援助。除了在長期的大學(xué)生活中你能省下大筆的錢外，幾項獎學(xué)金可對你生活的各方面進(jìn)行補貼而且使你受益匪淺——學(xué)期補助、團隊旅行、某些資源的特殊利用等等。如果你已經(jīng)報名但還沒有得到任何資金援助，就繼續(xù)努力！如果你學(xué)習(xí)成績優(yōu)秀，而生活又拮據(jù)，學(xué)校每學(xué)期都有許多獎學(xué)金項目，會給你提供申請的機會。