Question

Personal money-management website Mint.com suggests recently that responsible parents should give their kids credit cards—possibly starting as young as middle school. The website says a credit card will help children master responsible spending habits and give parents the chance to teach them some valuable lessons.

It’s absolutely true that kids should learn about how a credit card works and how to use it responsibly. But the idea that they need a card of their own to practise this is questionable.

Yes, credit cards are a teaching tool, but it’s the time you spend educating them about money management that does the teaching, not the piece of plastic. Sit down with your child—here we are referring to teens and walk them through your credit card statements. Point out important things like the due date, late fee warning, and APR (年贷款利率).

If you have good credit, adding a child as an authorized user onto one of your credit cards also provides teachable moments. Allow kids to use the card to make specific purchases and require their participation in payment.

Since the card is still in your name, you can take them off it at any point and cut off their access if they're not able to handle the responsibility.

Another option is to set them up with an account at a local bank that offers free use of a debit card (借记卡). Unlike credit card, the debit card has no overdraft (透支) function.

Children can only use the card to pay for things and the money is taken directly from their bank account. If the account is empty, the worst that will happen is the card being declined at a cash register.

1.Why does Mint.com advise parents to give middle school kids credit cards?

A. To leave their kids financially independent.

B. To help their kids form good spending habits.

C. To teach their kids' how to save pocket money.

D. To strengthen the relationship with their kids.

2.The author considers a credit card as a teaching tool because ______.

A. it motivates teens to ask their parents for less financial support

B. it helps teenagers to know some basic knowledge of credit cards

C. it contains detailed financial information on the card surface

D. it offers parents the chance to teach kids to manage money

3.What is the purpose of adding kids as credit card authorized users?

A. To avoid extremely high overdraft fees.

B. To encourage them to share household expenses.

C. To teach them to be responsible credit card users.

D. To help them pay close attention to their bank account.

4.What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A. Further information about the debit card.

B. The overdraft functions of a debit card.

C. More disadvantages of credit cards.

D. The kids' attitude towards a credit card.

Answer 1

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

试题分析:本文是一篇说明介绍类文章，主要介绍了一家网站向家长们建议给自己的孩子办理信用卡的事情，说明了办理信用卡对于培养孩子的消费习惯、责任感等各方面的教育意义。

1.B细节分析题。根据The website says a credit card will help children master responsible spending habits and give parents the chance to teach them some valuable lessons可知这家网站建议父母让孩子尽早使用信用卡是为了帮助他们养成良好的消费习惯，故选B。

2.D推理判断题。根据Yes, credit cards are a teaching tool, but it’s the time you spend educating them about money management that does the teaching, not the piece of plastic可知作者认为信用卡是一种教育工具主要是因为它为父母提供了一个教育子女理财的机会，选D。

3.C推理判断题。根据If you have good credit, adding a child as an authorized user onto one of your credit cards also provides teachable moments. Allow kids to use the card to make specific purchases and require their participation in payment可知，让孩子们成为信用卡用户可以教会他们成为更有责任感的信用卡使用者，故选C。

4.

考点：考查说明介绍类阅读