2．According to the writer, compulsive bargain hunters are in constant search of the lowest possible prices 　　　　.

　　　 A．because they want to save money to help their budgets

　　　 B．because they can have the feeling of winning others in getting things for less money

　　　 C．and will not have money problems if they can keep to their budget

　　　 D．but they often admit they feel dissatisfied if they can get things for less money than others

1．According to psychologists, a compulsive spender is one who spends large amounts of money 　　　.

　　　 A．and takes great pleasure from what he or she buys

　　　 B．in order to satisfy his or her basic needs in life

　　　 C．just to meet his or her strong psychological need

　　　 D．entirely with an irrational eagerness

4．The passage tells us　　　　　　 .

　　　 A．the relationship between supply and demand

　　　 B．the possible results of government controls

　　　 C．the necessity of government control

　　　 D．the urgency of getting rid of government controls

1-4 ACAB　

No. 10

People can be addicted to different things, e. g. alcohol, drugs, certain foods, or even television. People who have such an addiction are compulsive (难以抑制的); i. e. , they have a very powerful psychological need that they feel they must satisfy. According to psychologists, many people are compulsive spenders; they feel that they must spend money. This compulsion, like most others, is irrational – impossible to explain reasonably. For compulsive spenders who buy on credit, charge accounts are even more exciting than money. In other words, compulsive spenders feel that with credit, they can do anything. Their pleasure in spending enormous amounts is actually greater than the pleasures that they get from the things they buy.

There is even a special psychology of bargain hunting. To save money, of course, most people look for sales, low prices, and discounts. Compulsive bargain hunters, however, often buy things that they don’t need just because they are cheap. They want to believe that they are helping their budgets, but they are really playing an exciting game: when they can buy something for less than other people, they feel that they are winning. Most people, experts claim, have two reasons for their behavior: a good reason for the things that they do and the real reason.

It is not only scientists, of course, who understand the psychology of spending habits, but also business people. Stores, companies and advertisers use psychology to increase business: they consider people’s need for love, power, or influence, their basic values, their beliefs and opinions, and so on in their advertising and sales methods.

Psychologists often use a method called “behavior therapy” to help individuals solve their personal problems. In the same was, they can help people who feel that they have problems with money.

3．The problem of unemployment will happen　　　　　 .

　　　 A．if the minimum wage is set too high

　　　 B．if the minimum wage is set too low

　　　 C．if the workers are unskilled

　　　 D．if the maximum wage is set

2．According to the critics, rent control　　　　　 .

　　　 A．will always benefit those who rent apartments

　　　 B．is unnecessary

　　　 C．will bring negative effects in the long run

　　　 D．is very necessary

1．There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may　　　　　 .

　　　 A．cause a shortage of apartments

　　　 B．worry those who rent apartments as homes

　　　 C．increase the profits of landlords

　　　 D．encourage landlords to invest in building apartment

4．Where are the ads available to people?

　　　 A．Newspaper　　　　　 B．Magazine　　　　　　 C．TV　　　　　　　　　　 D．Internet

1-4 ABBD　

No. 9

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits(赢利). Therefore, they invest(投资)in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent – controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low – paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

3．Which is not true about the ads?

　　　 A．Yuki Kamura will stay in Shanghai in March for a whole month.

　　　 B．A family of parents with 15 – year – old twins should pay 75 yuan for the Shanghai museum admission.

　　　 C．You will probably be taught to dance if you go to Jack Stein’s.

　　　 D．American jazz from Herbie Davis is popular in Shanghai.

2．From the text we may learn that Sushi is　　　　　 .

　　　 A．a cook　　　　　　　　 B．a kind of food　　　 C．an instructor　　　　 D．an artist

1．Suppose you are going to attend an activity at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, which one can you choose?

　　　 A．Live Music – Late Night Jazz　　　　　　　　 B．Scottish dancing　

　　　 C．Exhibitions – Shanghai Museum　　　　　 D．Dinning – Sushi chef in town