A lot of interesting things have happened in the past several months as people from all walks of life learn how to stretch their money. A lot of changes have been accelerated by the fuel shocks during the summer of 2008; in a lot of ways we seem to be reverting to the frugal(economical) sensibilities of a past generation. More people are choosing to be more picky when they swipe their credit cards even if that means not buying things until they have money in their bank accounts, the days of the $0-down mortgage(抵押贷款)seem to be murdered, and there is a lot more acceptance of environmentally-friendly technologies that promise to reduce our overall dependency on foreign oil even if it means taking a hit to the excesses that used to define our quality of living.

An interesting new trend being taken by small businesses is the practice of offering discounted prices to customers willing to pay in cash. This is not the same as paying “under the table”---rather, the store saves its merchant processing fees and passes those savings on to the customers. The idea is a good one in principle---paying in cash forces consumers to take stock of what they are spending as much as it saves stores from transaction(交易) fees.

  Of course there are drawbacks to the plan. When people pay in cash, they tend to be more conservative with their spending since they tangibly(really) feel their money leave their possession. That will cause stores to lose profits because customers will think twice before buying high—margin “impulse” products at checkout whereas before they might not have thought twice before charging it. Increased volume of cash handling opens stores to loss through employee theft at the till(抽屉), not to mention controls that need to be put into place to count and deposit physical currency.

Our family has saved a fortune by switching to cash. When getting to the bottom of your change jar means no more purchase power until your next pay period, you really start to appreciate the fine art of merchandising(做买卖) and the expertise applied to make you want to buy more and more. Cold hard cash feels more organic, and helps us to appreciate the effort it takes to maintain our lifestyle.

56. From the passage, we can learn that __________.

A. customers are in a more favorable position by paying in cash.

B. people will not be allowed to use their credit cards if there is no money in their bank account.

C. people have adjusted their way of living to the new situation.

D. people are living better than before by paying in cash.

57. By saying “people from all walks of life learn how to stretch their money”, the author means that _________.

A. people walk to work in order to save money.

B. people of all professions learn to make the best use of their money.

C. people of the whole society learn to earn more money.

D. all people learn to extend money so that it is worth more.

58. When the customers pay their goods in cash, the stores will be affected in the following ways EXCEPT ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________.

A. the sale of their goods will decrease as the customers are more reluctant to buy things.

B. there is a potential danger of money loss by their staff.

C. it brings a burden to the stores as they need to deal with the cash.

D. the stores make less money as they need to give some money back to the customers.

59. What caused people to start to use cash instead of credit cards?

A. The rising prices.  B. High unemployment.   C. The fuel shocks.   D. The economic crisis.

60. What’s the author’s attitude towards the practice of paying in cash?

A. Approving        B. Ridiculous      C. Uninterested          D. Opposed 

Shopping in the Old Town of Edinburgh

Designs on Cashmere

Come and visit the cashmere specialists. See the usual and the unusual in cashmere. Shop in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere----- no pressure to buy. Custom-made sweater service available.

Mail order catalogue too.

28 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Tel: 031 5566394

B

Royal Mile Pharmacy

Just up from John Knox’s house in the High Street is the Royal Mile Pharmacy.

We specialize in films; Toiletries; Medicine; Herbal Remedies; one Hour Film Processing

67 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR

Tel: 031 5561971

C

Rock Sensations

A rock shop of a different kind on the grassmarket. Rock Sensations specializes in rock’ roll memorabilia and novelties, recapturing the spirit of the 50s and 60s. The shop’s centerpiece is a fully operational antique Seeburg jukebox, stocked with old Beatles a Elvis 45s.

Open    Mon-Sat    9:30a.m --- 5:30 p.m.  Sun 11:00 a.m. ---- 4:30 p.m.

108 West Bow, Edinburgh

Tel: 031 2257710

D

The Castle Books

This family business established in 1980 has a large selection of Scottish art, children’s travel, natural history, and literature and on many other subjects besides. Rare and second-hand books bought and sold.

Member of P. B. F. A

Open  Mon-Sat    12:00 noon --- 5:00 p.m.

204 Canongate, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh

E

Scottish Countrywear

Scottish Countrywear ( just a stone’s throw from the Castle). Foe a superb range of top quality Scottish and Celtic design in Shetland, Lambs wool and Cashmere. Representing Belinda Robertson, Smith and Telford and Johnstons of Elgin. We also stock a huge range of outdoor wear.

514 Castlehill, Edinburgh

Tel: 031 2265323

F

Edinburgh Woolen Mill

Just below the famous Edinburgh Castle, the Edinburgh Woolen Mill offers traditional Scottish knitwear and garments of high quality direct from our own mills. Also a large selection of Scottish food, and gifts in a range of tartans.

Natural value guaranteed.

452-455 Kawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2Nt

Tel: 031 2251525

请阅读有关John的亲人的信息，然后匹配人物和John要去购买给他或她的礼物的商店。

    John is returning to Australia from Scotland tomorrow and need to buy some gifts for members of his family. Here is the list of people he must get things for and the shops near his hotel in Edinburgh. Where should he go shopping for each person?

Julie ------ his niece loves hiking and camping.

Robert----- his brother is a musician in a rock band and is interested in the history of music.

Peter------ his father is a university lecturer in the Department of English Literature.

Mildred----- his mother collects woolen scarves from all over the world.

Mary----- his sister-in-law asked John to bring her back a bottle of perfume.

    人物                              商店

1．Julie                           A．Designs on Cashmere 

2．Robert                         B．Royal Mile Pharmacy

3．Peter                          C．Rock Sensations

4．Mildred                        D．The Castle Books

5．Mary                          E．Scottish Countrywear

                                   F．Edinburgh Woolen Mill

Checks have largely taken the place of money as a means of 　 36　 , for they are widely accepted everywhere. 　37　 this is very 　38　 for both buyer and seller, it should not be forgotten that checks are not real money: they are quite 　39 in themselves. A shop-keeper runs a certain 40 when he accepts a check and he is quite 　41 his rights if, on occasion, he 　42 to do so. People do not always know this and are 　43　 if their good faith is called in question. A wealthy friend of mine told me he had an extremely 　44 experience.

One day he decided to buy a particularly fine pearl necklace at a famous jewelry shop which keeps a large__45 of precious stones and asked if he could pay 　46 check, the assistant said that this was quite 47 . But the moment my friend signed his name, he was invited into the manager’s office. The manager was very polite, but he explained that someone 　48 exactly the same name had presented them with a worthless check not long ago. My friend got very angry at it and said he would buy a necklace 　49 . When he got up to go, the manager told him that the police would arrive at any moment and he had better stay 　50 he wanted to get into serious trouble. Sure enough the police arrived, __51 to my friend for the 　52 , but explained that a person who had used the same name as his 53 for a number of recent robberies. Then the police asked my friend to 　 54　 out a note which had been used by the thief in a number of shops. The note read, “I have a gun in my pocket, ask no questions and give all the money in the safe.” Fortunately, my friend’s handwriting was quite__55__ the thief’s. He was not only allowed to go without further delay, but to take the pearl necklace with him.

36. A. change 　　 　　 B. exchange　　　　 　　 C. trade 　　　　　　　 　　 D. business

37. A. Because　　　　　　 　　 B. If 　　　　　　　　 　　 C. Though　　　　　　　　　 D. Since

　　38. A. favourite　　　　　　 B. popular　　　　　 　　 C. profitable 　　　　　　　 D. convenient

　　39. A. dangerous 　　 B. priceless 　　　 　　 C. unimportant 　　　　　 D. valueless

　　40. A. chance 　　　　　　 　　 B. risk 　　　　　　　 　　 C. opportunity 　 　　　 D. danger

41. A. within 　　　　　　　 B. out of　　　　　　　　　　 C. without　　　　　　 　 D. beyond

42. A. refuses 　　　　　　 　　 B. agrees 　　　　　 　　 C. fails 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. hates

43. A. unhappy 　　 　　 B. ashamed 　　　 　　 C. shocked　　　　　 　 D. puzzled

44. A. uninteresting 　　 B. unreasonable 　　 C. unforgettable　　 　　　 D. unpleasant

　　45. A. amount　　　 　　 B. accident 　　　　 　　 C. stock 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. number

46. A. in 　　　　　　　　　　 　　 B. by 　　　　　　　　 　　 C. with　　　　　　　　 　 D. on

　　47. A. in need 　　　　　　 B. in common 　　 　　 C. in use 　　　　　　　　　　 D. in order

48. A. used 　　　　 　　 B. with 　　　　　　　　　　 　　 C. named 　　　　　　　　　 D. by

49. A. anywhere 　 　　 B. somewhere 　 　　 C. somewhere else 　　　 D. everywhere

50. A. unless 　　　 　　 B. otherwise 　　　 　　 C. if 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. whether

51. A. coming 　　　　　　 B. sticking　 　　　 　　 C. apologizing 　　　　　　 D. checking

52. A. manner 　　　　　　 B. behavior 　　　　 　　 C. inconvenience　 　　　 D. treatment

　　53. A. responsible 　　 B. answered 　　　　　　 　　 C. charged 　　　　　　　 D. blamed

　 54. A. copy 　　　　 　　 B. read 　　　　　　　 　　 C. take 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. bring

　 55. A. unlike 　　　　 　　 B. different 　　　　 　　 C. dissimilar 　　　　　　　 D. dislike

Every year students flock to the college bookstore to purchase the different textbooks that they need for their classes. Little do these students realize that, in doing so, they are throwing good money away. It may sound unbelievable but textbooks, in some cases, actually cost as much as, if not more, than college fees.
Many people think that college bookstore are the most convenient source for textbooks. Titles are usually in-stock and students may purchase new textbooks or  choose to buy second-hand books and save money . But the money saved by purchasing second-hand textbooks from college bookstores is small compared to the amount they could save by shopping online.
More and more online booksellers have begun selling textbooks at heavily discounted prices. Online second-hand bookstores are another source for college books as they stock a large number of textbooks, which means sizable savings for students. Students should avoid purchasing their textbooks at the first store that they browse online since there are so many ‘virtual’ booksellers on the Net. Price isn't the only factor to consider when making an online purchase. Students should also consider shipping costs and delivery time when making their decision.
Online auctions(拍卖) are another option for students seeking a bargain. This option, however, has its pros and cons. A plus is that students can get incredibly cheap books. One problem is that while online bookstores have a system in place that ensure  you receive your order within a reasonable amount of time, with an auction purchase, however, you  must depend on the auction seller's timetable.
One way that students can really save is by getting books for free. Project Gutenberg is one resource that English majors will find invaluable. Here students can legally download a huge collection of classic novels. In the past students needing help with their studies would often have to spend a lot of money buying expensive study guides. Today that is no longer the case. Cash-strapped students can now visit the website SparkNotes for free downloadable study guides as well as classics.
56. Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
A. Learning to save money on Textbooks           B. Why Buy Textbooks
C. Tips for Buying Secondhand Textbooks          D. Online Shopping
57. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a source to obtain textbooks ?
A. Online used bookstores.              B. College bookstores. 
C. Online auctions.                    D. Secondhand bookstore centres.
58. The underlined expression ‘pros and cons’(paragraph 4) is closest in meaning to __________.
A. professionals and conservatives         B. processes and conditions
C. joy and sadness                      D. good and bad points
59. According to the passage, Project Gutenberg is probably __________.
A. a project to help poor students get free learning materials
B. a government project aimed at helping English majors
C. a website for English majors to get the guides from language experts
D. a website for students to get free sources for English learning
60. From the passage, we can learn that__________.
A. online auctions are perfect for students seeking text books.
B. students should visit many websites before buying their books.
C. the cost of textbooks in college is low compared to the amount spent on tuition
D. students should consider shopping costs and delivery time above all else when making their buying decision.