—Why not take my car to the museum instead of walking?

—No, thanks, ______.

A. I’m able to??? ????????????? B. I’m used to??? ????????????? C. I’m about to???? ????????????? D. I’ve got to

Then why am I able to write about computers?  I can write on this subject because of these shortcomings. The last two years of learning has been an ordeal for me. By hard work I have managed to learn enough to use computers fairly well, and to work with people who know a great deal more than I. Since I have learned all this at such personal cost, I would like to share my knowledge with others. More and more people want to know about computers, and want to know quickly.

The best way to learn is to take a course. However, many people do not have the time for this. They will have to find some other ways to get some basic information. I hope to be able to help them by writing about some of the things I have learned by myself.

I have a home computer on which I’ve learned in my own time. I have used it like a home study course. I have sat down with it day after day, night after night. I have forced it to give up some of its secrets. Now I can use it to do some of the work that I get paid for. And I can do this work in my own home, instead of in an office. Many people may soon be working on a computer at home, just as many now take in other people’s typing.

Some things about computers are easier than you may fear. First, computers are logical. Things that at first seem difficult will make sense to you after you learn the rules. Second, it is really not hard to learn enough to use today’s machines. You do not need to have a great brain. But you do have to learn to think in new ways. And you do have to keep a good bit of information in your head. Finally, there are many people around who are really enthusiastic about computers. These people are always happy to be of help.

1. The purpose of writing this article is to ______.

A. help those who want to learn computers

B. tell us that it’s difficult to learn computers

C. let us know how hardworking the writer was

D. show us how to make money at home through computers

2. The underlined word “ordeal” probably means ______.

A. an interesting experience

B. something easy

C. something difficult

D. a tiring job

3. According to the passage, a home computer can be best described as ______.

A. puzzling　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. frightening

C. friendly　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. logical

4. We can learn from the passage that the writer ______.

A. often helps his co-workers

B. knows a lot about computers

C. wants to give a computer course to others

D. likes writing very much

5. According to the writer, a computer can be used at home to ______.

A. take typing for fun

B. help you change your job

C. help you make money in some way

D. take a college course

I’m not a computer expert. I have been in the field for only a short time. I never learned much in the way of science or math. And I’m quite puzzled by things like engineering or electronics.

Then why am I able to write about computers?  I can write on this subject because of these shortcomings. The last two years of learning has been an ordeal for me. By hard work I have managed to learn enough to use computers fairly well, and to work with people who know a great deal more than I. Since I have learned all this at such personal cost, I would like to share my knowledge with others. More and more people want to know about computers, and want to know quickly.

The best way to learn is to take a course. However, many people do not have the time for this. They will have to find some other ways to get some basic information. I hope to be able to help them by writing about some of the things I have learned by myself.

I have a home computer on which I’ve learned in my own time. I have used it like a home study course. I have sat down with it day after day, night after night. I have forced it to give up some of its secrets. Now I can use it to do some of the work that I get paid for. And I can do this work in my own home, instead of in an office. Many people may soon be working on a computer at home, just as many now take in other people’s typing.

Some things about computers are easier than you may fear. First, computers are logical. Things that at first seem difficult will make sense to you after you learn the rules. Second, it is really not hard to learn enough to use today’s machines. You do not need to have a great brain. But you do have to learn to think in new ways. And you do have to keep a good bit of information in your head. Finally, there are many people around who are really enthusiastic about computers. These people are always happy to be of help.

1. The purpose of writing this article is to ______.

A. help those who want to learn computers

B. tell us that it’s difficult to learn computers

C. let us know how hardworking the writer was

D. show us how to make money at home through computers

2. The underlined word “ordeal” probably means ______.

A. an interesting experience

B. something easy

C. something difficult

D. a tiring job

3. According to the passage, a home computer can be best described as ______.

A. puzzling　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. frightening

C. friendly　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. logical

4. We can learn from the passage that the writer ______.

A. often helps his co-workers

B. knows a lot about computers

C. wants to give a computer course to others

D. likes writing very much

5. According to the writer, a computer can be used at home to ______.

A. take typing for fun

B. help you change your job

C. help you make money in some way

D. take a college course

　 I'm Rich Kleinfeldt with some financial expressions used in business and the stock market.

　 Our first expression is "in the red." It is another way of saying that a business is losing money. In the past ,numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink to show a loss.

A business magazine recently published a report about a television company. The report said the company was still in the red. but was able to cut its loss from the year before.

A profit by a business is written in black numbers. So a company that is "in the black" is making money.

　 Another financial expression is "run on the bank." That is what happens when many people try to withdraw all their money from a bank. A "run on the bank" usually happens when people believe there is danger a bank may fail or close.

Newspaper reports about a banking crisis in Russia used that expression. They said the government acted because of fears that the crisis would cause a run on the banks.

"Day trading" is a system that lets investors trade directly on an electronic market system. It was the first completely computerized stock market. It sells stocks of companies not listed on any stock exchange. Many high technology companies are listed on it.

　　 Day trading companies provide a desk and a computer system to an investor who wants to trade. Individuals must provide fifty thousand dollars or more to the trading company to pay for the stocks they buy. Thousands of other investors do day trading from computers in their homes. A day trader watches stock prices carefully. When he sees a stock rise in price, he uses the computer to buy shares of the stock. If the stock continues to rise in price in the next few minutes, the day trader sells the shares quickly to make a small profit. Then he looks for another stock to buy. If a stock goes down instead of up, he sells it and accepts the loss.

　 The idea is to make a small profit many rimes during the day. Day traders may buy and sell stocks hundreds of times each day.

61. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

　 A. If a business is losing money, we can say it is "in the red."

　 B. In the past. numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink.

　 C. A business magazine only publishes reports about companies in the black.

　 D. The television company has been in the black since the year before.

62. A "run on the bank" happens when people___________.

　 A. try to withdraw their money from a bank

　 B. are afraid that the bank might close down

　 C. know that there might be a crisis in the government

　 D. think that they can't earn money enough to support their families

63. Which of the following is NOT true about Day trading?

　 A. Day traders can make small profits without any loss.

　 B. "Day trading" was the first completely computerized stock market.

　 C. You must give some money to the trading company to pay for the stocks you buy.

　 D. You can do day trading from computers in your homes.

64. How many financial expressions are explained in the passage?

A.3.　　　　 B.4.　　　　　　 C.5.　　　　　 D.6.

65. Rich Kleinfeldt might be a____________.

A. newspaper reporter

B. boss from a company

C. emcee(主持人) in a radio program

D. investors of a Day trading

—Why not take my car to the museum instead of walking?

— No, thanks. ____.

A. I'm used to                     B. I’m able to                      C. I'm about to             D. I've got to