Buying a New Car
Decide What You Can Afford, Want, and Need
A car is one of the most important and costly purchases you may make. By preparing yourself before you start shopping for a car, you can make the buying process much easier. Besides helping you decide what is best for you, your research and preparation will help you get the best deal.
Some people may have saved enough money to be able to pay cash for a new car. Others must finance the purchase. Take a careful look at your budget to determine how much you can afford to spend as a down payment on a new car and how much you can spend on monthly payments.
Once you have decided on your price range, decide what type of car you want and need. When making this decision, consider how many passengers will be riding in the vehicle and the kind of driving you do. While a sports coupe(双座四轮车) might be just what you need to get back and forth to work, a larger vehicle may be in order if you need the car to shuttle children to and from various activities.
Information Equals Bargaining Leverage (杠杆)
Once you decide on the type of car you need, it is time to do your research to narrow down the choices. A number of publications and other resources can provide comparison information rating the vehicles within specific categories. Compare such areas as safety, reliability, fuel economy, warranties, operating costs, general features, and options when making your decision.
Safety
Consider the safety features offered in a car. More and more auto makers are offering air bags on the front passenger's side, in addition to the driver's side. Air bags automatically inflate (膨胀) on impact to provide a cushion.
Other optional safety features include built-in child safety seats, anti-lock brakes, and traction control. Anti-lock brakes keep the wheels from locking up and skidding out of control when the driver slams on the brakes suddenly, or hits a slick spot in the road. Also, consider whether the car has good outward visibility, and whether or not the gauges on the instrument panel are easy to read. Reliability
A number of sources compare maintenance costs on vehicles and have compiled information about repairs that are likely with particular models. Information is also available on the number of complaints filed about particular cars.
Fuel Economy
Mandated(批准) by federal law, fuel economy has improved over the years. The average fuel economy is now more than 28 miles per gallon. Federal law requires an Environmental Protection Agency label to be placed on the window of every new car, listing average fuel economy for city and highway driving according to EPA tests. The ratings are intended to be a comparison between models. Depending on how and where you drive, your actual mileage may not match the estimates.
Warranties
Compare each car's warranty coverage, which may vary widely among car manufacturers. Consider the length of the warranty, mileage limits, and deductibles. Some cars have basic warranties, which cover the entire vehicle, while others have limited warranties.
Operating Costs
A number of publications offer estimates on what it costs to operate a car in a year's time. These costs vary greatly from one model to another, with luxury cars costing more than economy cars. The factors included in operating costs arc fuel, oil, maintenance, and tires. Other costs associated with ownership, which also vary greatly, are insurance, depreciation, taxes, and licensing.
General Features
Consider your particular needs when analyzing different vehicles, For instance, if you need a lot of trunk space for hauling groceries, baseball equipment, or boxes of supplies for your office, cho
A. Y
B. N
C. NG
听力原文: How many of you drink cola? Nearly everybody. Did you know that cola started out not as a soft drink but as a cure for headache back in the late 1800's? John S. Pamberton, a drugist from Atlanta, had experimented for many months trying to find a cure for the common headache. He worked in his back yard, mixing and heating different combinations of oils and flavors until he found one that seems promising.
Pamberton bottled the mixture and began selling it in drugstores as a concentrated syrup that the customer had to mix with water before drinking. Cola's transformation from a concentrated syrup to a carbonated soft drink came about quite by accident. One day, a customer came into a drugstore complaining of a headache and asked for a bottle of cola syrup. He wanted to take it right away. So he asked the clerk to mix the medicine while he waited. The clerk, instead of walking to the other end of the counter to get plain water, suggested mixing the syrup with soda water. The customer agreed, and after drinking it, re marked how good it tasted. The clerk continued offering the mixture and carbonated cola grew in popularity. Today carbonated colas are sold in most countries around the world. And although they no longer contain the ingredients to kill headache, they are still 'very refreshing.
(33)
A recipe for a soft drink.
B. The medicinal effects of cola.
C. The history of cola.
D. Softdrink production.
听力原文:M: Susan, I am proud of you! It was a good race and you did your best.
W: Thanks. It's very nice of you to say so. But if only I hadn't fallen.
Q: What happened to Susan?
(18)
A. She won the match easily.
B. She won the match though she fell.
C. She lost the match though she did not fall.
D. She lost the match because she fell.
Movies are the most popular form. of entertainment for millions of Americans. They go to the movies to escape their normal everyday existence and to experience a life more exciting than their own. They may choose to see a particular film because they like the actors or because they have heard the film has a good story. But the main reason why people go to the movies is to escape. Sitting in a dark theater, watching the images on the screen, they enter another world that is unreal to them. They become involved in the lives of the characters in the movie, and for two hours, they forget all about their own problems. They are in a dream world where things often appear to be more romantic (浪漫的) and beautiful than in real life.
The biggest "dream factories" are in Hollywood, the capital of the film industry. Each year, Hollywood studios make hundreds of movies that are shown all over the world. American movies are popular because they tell stories and they are well-made. They provide the public with heroes who do things the average person would like to do but often can't. People have to cope with many problems and much trouble in real life, so they feel encouraged when they see the "good guys" win in the movies.
The Americans go to the movies mainly because they want ______.
A. to enjoy a good story'
B. to experience an exciting life
C. to see the actors and actresses
D. to escape their daily life