Section A: Banked Cloze
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
There're three main types of financial stress people encounter. The first type is apparent in people being stressed about the (26) ______ ups and downs of investment markets—actually not so much the ups, but (27) ______ the downs. These people are usually unable or unprepared to endure the long haul.
The next common type of financial stress is that caused by debt. In a (28) ______ percentage of cases of debt-induced financial stress, credit cards and loans will be a central element. Often there'll be a car loan and perhaps a mortgage, but credit cards often seem to be the gateway to debt-related financial difficulties for many.
The third type of stress and (29) ______ the least known is inherited financial stress, which is the most destructive. It is experienced by those who have grown up in households where their parents regularly (30) ______ and fought about money. Money therefore becomes a stressful topic, and so the thought of sitting down and planning is an unattractive (31) ______.
Those suffering inherited financial anxiety (32) ______ to follow one of two patterns. Either they put their head in the sand: they would (33) ______ examining their financial statements, budgeting, and discussing financial matters with those closest to them. Alternatively, they would go to the other (34) ______, and micro-analyze everything to the point of complete (35) ______. They're convinced that whatever decision they make will be the wrong one.
Word Bank
Answers & Explanations
26. I (normal)。解析：修饰名词 ups and downs。意为投资市场“正常的”起伏。
27. E (definitely)。解析：修饰动词。意为不是上涨，而是“肯定地/绝对地”是下跌让人压力大。
28. D (considerable)。解析：修饰名词 percentage。意为在“相当大”比例的案例中。
29. J (possibly)。解析：修饰形容词 least known。意为“可能”是最不为人知的。
30. B (argued)。解析：与 fought (争吵) 并列，填过去式动词。意为父母经常“争论”和吵架。
31. K (proposition)。解析：位于形容词 unattractive 之后填名词。意为理财计划是一个无吸引力的“主张/提议”。
32. N (tend)。解析：句子缺谓语，且主语为复数。固定搭配 tend to do 意为“往往会”。
33. C (avoid)。解析：位于 would 之后填动词原形。意为他们会“避免”检查财务报表。
34. F (extreme)。解析：固定搭配 go to the other extreme 意为“走向另一个极端”。
35. G (inaction)。解析：位于 complete 之后，指过度分析导致完全“无行动/不作为”。