Americans often say that there are only two things a person can be sure of in life: death and taxes. Many people feel that the United States has the worst taxes in the world.

Taxes are the money that people pay to support their government. There are generally three levels of government in the United States; federal(聯(lián)邦的), state and city; therefore, there are three types of taxes.

　　Salaried people who earn more than four to five thousand dollars per year must pay a certain part of their salaries to the federal government. The percentage varies depending on their salaries. The federal government has a two-level income tax; that is, 15 or 28 percent. $17,850 is the cut-off. The tax rate is 15 percent below $17,850 and 28 percent above.

　　The second tax is for the state government: New York, California, or any of the other forty-eight states; Some states have an income tax similar to that of the federal government. Of course, the percentage for the state tax is lower. Other states have a sales tax, which is a percentage charged to any item which people buy in the state. Some states use income tax and sales tax to raise their revenues(稅收).

　　The third tax is for the city. This tax comes in two forms: property tax (residents who own a home have to pay taxes on it) and excise tax(貨物稅),which is collected on vehicles in a city. The cities use this money for education, police, public works, etc.

　　Since Americans pay such high taxes, they often feel that they are working one day each week just to pay their taxes. People always complain about taxes. They often say that the government misuses their tax dollars. They all believe that taxes are too high in this country.

1．How much money does an American earning $40,000 per year pay to the federal government as income tax?

A．28% of this income.                           B．15% of this income.    

C．$17,850                                       D．$5,000.

2．What tax does an American have to pay to the city if he owns a car?

A．Property tax.      B．Excise tax.     C．Income tax.    D．Sales tax.

3．The percentage varies depending on _______________________ .

A．different people  B．different states      C．different taxes  D．different salaries

閱讀理解

　　Americans often say that there are only two things a person can be sure of in life：death. and taxes. Many people feel that the United States has the worst taxes in the world.

　　Taxes are the money that people pay to support their government. There are generally three levels of government in the United States：federal, state and city; therefore, there are three types of taxes.

　　Salaried(靠薪水的) people who earn more than four to five thousand per year must pay a certain part of their salaries to the federal government. The percentage varies for different people. It depends on the salaries. The federal government has a two－level income tax：that is, 15 or 28 percent. $ 17,850 is the cut off. The tax rate is 15 percent below $ 17, 850 and 28 percent above.

　　The second tax is for the state government：New York, California, or any of the other forty－eight states. Some states have an income tax similar to that of the federal government. Of course, the percentage for the state tax is lower. Other states have sales tax, which is a percentage charged to any item(項(xiàng)目) which people buy in the state. Some states use income tax and sales tax to raise their revenues(稅收).

　　The third tax is for the city. This tax comes in two forms：property tax (residents who own a home have to pay tax on it) and excise(牌照稅) tax, which is collected on vehicles in a city. The cities use this money for education, police, public work, etc.

　　Since Americans pay such high taxes, they often feel that they are working one day each week just to pay their taxes. People always complain about taxes. They often say that the government misuses their tax dollars. They all believe that taxes are too high in this country.

1．In the United States, taxes are collected to provide revenues for ________.

[　　]

A．the federal government

B．the state government

C．the city government

D．the three levels of government

2．How much money does an American earning $ 40,000 per year pay to the federal government as income tax according to the passage?

[　　]

A．28 percent of this income.

B．15 percent of this income.

C．$ 17,850.

D．$ 5,000.

3．What happens to buyers when a sales tax is collected?

[　　]

A．They have to pay more than what the item costs.

B．They have to pay less than what the item costs.

C．They have to pay exactly what the item costs.

D．They will all give up buying the item.

4．What tax does an American have to pay to the city if he owns a car?

[　　]

A．The American has to pay to the city property tax if he owns a car.

B．The American has to pay to the city excise tax if he owns a car.

C．The American has to pay to the city income tax if he owns a car.

D．The American has to pay to the city sales tax if he owns a car.

5．After reading the passage, we might feel that Americans seem to be ________.

[　　]

A．satisfied with their taxes

B．proud of their taxes

C．unsatisfied with their taxes

D．in favor of their taxes

閱讀下面短文，從每題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳答案.

　　Americans often say that there are only two things a person can be sure of in life: death and taxes. Many people feel that the United States has the worst taxes in the world.

　　Taxes are the money that people pay to support their government. There are generally three levels of government in the United States: federal（聯(lián)邦的）, state, and city; therefore, there are three types of taxes.

　　Salaried people who earn more than four to five thousand per year must pay a certain part of their salaries to the federal government. The percentage varies for different people. It depends on the salaries. The federal government has a two-level income tax: that is, 15 or 28 percent. $17, 850 is the cut off. The tax rate is 15 percent below $17, 850 and 28 percent above.

　　The second tax is for the state government: New York, California, or any of the other forty-eight states. Some states have an income tax similar to that of the federal government. Of course, the percentage for the state tax is lower. Other states have a sales tax, which is a percentage charged to any item which people buy in the state. Some states use income tax and sales tax to raise their revenues（稅收）.

　　The third tax is for the city. This tax comes in two forms: property tax（residents who own a home have to pay taxes on it）and excise tax（貨物稅）, which is collected on vehicles in a city. The cities use this money for education, police, public works, etc.

　　Since Americans pay such nigh taxes, they often feel that they are working one day each week just to pay their taxes. People always complain about taxes. They often say that the government misuses their tax dollars. They all believe that taxes are too high in this country.

（1）In the United States, taxes are collected to provide revenues for ________.

[　　]

A. the federal government

B. the state government

C. the city government

D. the three levels of government

（2）How much money does an American earning $40, 000 per year pay to the federal government as income tax according to the passage?

[　　]

A. 28% of this income.

B. 15% of this income.

C. $17,850.

D. $5,000.

（3）What happens to buyers when a sales tax is collected?

[　　]

A. They have to pay more than what the item costs.

B. They can pay less than what the item costs.

C. They have to pay exactly what the item costs.

D. They will all give up buying the item.

（4）What tax does an American have to pay to the city if he owns a car?

（5）After reading the passage, we might feel that Americans seem to be ________.

[　　]

A. satisfied with their taxes

B. proud of their taxes

C. unhappy about their taxes

D. very angry at their taxes

閱讀下面短文，從每題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳答案.

　　Americans often say that there are only two things a person can be sure of in life: death and taxes. Many people feel that the United States has the worst taxes in the world.

　　Taxes are the money that people pay to support their government. There are generally three levels of government in the United States: federal（聯(lián)邦的）, state, and city; therefore, there are three types of taxes.

　　Salaried people who earn more than four to five thousand per year must pay a certain part of their salaries to the federal government. The percentage varies for different people. It depends on the salaries. The federal government has a two-level income tax: that is, 15 or 28 percent. $17, 850 is the cut off. The tax rate is 15 percent below $17, 850 and 28 percent above.

　　The second tax is for the state government: New York, California, or any of the other forty-eight states. Some states have an income tax similar to that of the federal government. Of course, the percentage for the state tax is lower. Other states have a sales tax, which is a percentage charged to any item which people buy in the state. Some states use income tax and sales tax to raise their revenues（稅收）.

　　The third tax is for the city. This tax comes in two forms: property tax（residents who own a home have to pay taxes on it）and excise tax（貨物稅）, which is collected on vehicles in a city. The cities use this money for education, police, public works, etc.

　　Since Americans pay such nigh taxes, they often feel that they are working one day each week just to pay their taxes. People always complain about taxes. They often say that the government misuses their tax dollars. They all believe that taxes are too high in this country.

（1）In the United States, taxes are collected to provide revenues for ________.

[　　]

A. the federal government

B. the state government

C. the city government

D. the three levels of government

（2）How much money does an American earning $40, 000 per year pay to the federal government as income tax according to the passage?

[　　]

A. 28% of this income.

B. 15% of this income.

C. $17,850.

D. $5,000.

（3）What happens to buyers when a sales tax is collected?

[　　]

A. They have to pay more than what the item costs.

B. They can pay less than what the item costs.

C. They have to pay exactly what the item costs.

D. They will all give up buying the item.

（4）What tax does an American have to pay to the city if he owns a car?

（5）After reading the passage, we might feel that Americans seem to be ________.

[　　]

A. satisfied with their taxes

B. proud of their taxes

C. unhappy about their taxes

D. very angry at their taxes

    Many of us already know about several American superstitions. Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition to these, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits―if you believe in such things―and impress your American friends when you mention them.

Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, “Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound.”This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. It will also raise some eyebrows（眉毛） if you try it.

In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americans will say, “All things come in threes.” Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.

Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry“something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.

As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!

73．The passage is most probably entitled(命名)“        ”.

A．American’s Bad Luck                    B．Cross-culture and Superstitions

C．American Superstitions                     D．Daily Life in Superstitions

74．The underlined sentence in the second paragraph“It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it”means:        .

A．When you try it, the dog will raise its eyebrows

B．You will make some people surprised when you try this trick

C．Only if you raise your eyebrows can the trick work

D．You will believe in the trick after you try it

75．In American’s view, the Number three is a(n)        number.

A．lucky                      B．unlucky                  C．special             D．ordinary

76．On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to        .

A．save some money for the wedding

B．bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride

C．give the good luck to the bride herself

D．pass the bad luck to others

Many of us already know about several American superstitions(迷信). Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition to these, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits—if you believe in such things—and impress your American friends when you mention them.

Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, “Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound.”This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.

In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americans will say, “All things come in threes.” Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.

Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry“something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.

As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!

The passage is most probably entitled(命名)“        ”.

A．American’s Bad Luck                        B．Cross-culture and Superstitions

C．American Superstitions                 D．Daily Life in Superstitions

The underlined sentence in the second paragraph“It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it”means:        .

A．When you try it, the dog will raise its eyebrows

B．You will make some people surprised when you try this trick

C．Only if you raise your eyebrows can the trick work

D．You will believe in the trick after you try it

In American’s view, the number three is a(n)        number.

A．lucky                            B．unlucky                  C．special             D．ordinary

On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to        .

A．save some money for the wedding

B．bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride

C．give the good luck to the bride herself

D．pass the bad luck to others