2014年同等學(xué)力申碩考試將于5月25日舉行，考生們一定要利用最后一個(gè)月的時(shí)間，做好考前沖刺。我們整理了同等學(xué)力英語(yǔ)每日一練，希望對(duì)大家有所幫助。

　　The First Rule of Finance is to live within your means by spending no more than 80% of your take-home pay. If you take home $100 per week, spend no more than $80.

　　But ever look at what people spend their money on? I have relatives and friends deeply in debt, spending $12 for every $10 they earn instead of the $8 you know they should be spending. When I see them, they’re proud of their new whatever. “What do you think of my new truck?” asked one from the driver’s seat. “Do you like my new shoes?” asked another on high heels. “Check out my new big screen.” Said a third while holding the remote in his living room. We’ve all heard people fishing for compliments on their new toys.

　　Every one of them was proud of what they’d financed. They seem to have bought it for the purpose of being proud, of showing off, of keeping up with the Joneses. “Look at my new …” is everybody’s favorite phrase, even when the object in question isn’t theirs at all and won’t be new when they’ve finally paid for it, if they ever do.

　　They’re proud of being stupid. They think it’s cool to drive the financed car, wear the financed shoes, and watch the financed TV, but to smart people, whose opinions are the only ones we should respect, these people look dumb as rocks.

　　The Joneses, nine times out of 10, are financially stupid. That’s why they have all that stuff, on borrowed money. Why try to copy them? Worse, why try to impress them? Copy and impress smart people, the ones who own their stuff. If you want to impress smart people, debt is the last way to go about it. Trying to impress a money-smart person by going into debt is like trying to impress Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps by drowning in a pool. Michael Phelps is impressed by good swimming and a money-smart person by good money management.

　　1. According to the author, the new truck, shoes and big screen mentioned in Para. 2 are _____.

　　A. indicators of wealth B. necessities to the buyers

　　C. just a waste of money D. examples of showing off

　　2. “… the object in question isn’t theirs” (Para. 3) means ______.

　　A. it is bought for other people B. it is bought with loaned money

　　C. it will finally be owned by the bank D. it will finally be owned by the buyers

　　3. According to the author, buying new objects on borrowed money is ______.

　　A. unwise B. shameful C. understandable D. impressive

　　4. “Smart people” in the last paragraph refer to ______.

　　A. clever businessmen B. people with high IQs

　　C. fashionable wealthy people D. people good at money management

　　5. The purpose of this passage is to ______.

　　A. show sympathy with poor consumers

　　B. criticize consumption of luxuries

　　C. advise people to become money-smart

　　D. persuade people to keep off fashions