Part III Reading comprehension (40 minutes, 40 points ) Directions: There are 4 passages in this section. Each of the passage is followed by 5 questions or unfinished statement. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one and mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center. Passage one The rich have traditionally passed their wealth on to their children. But an increasing number of billionaires are choosing not to. The reason? They want their children to live on themselves-and not to turn into spoiled successors. Nicola Horlick or "supermum", a famous British billionaire, owing to the fact that she has high-flying jobs and five kids-has spent her career making a reported ~250m. She now seems determined to throw off large parts of it. She already gives away about 25% of her income each year; she has just revealed, in a report on the state of charity in the city, that she will not be leaving most of the remainder to her children. "I think it is wrong to give too much inherited wealth to children," Horlick told the report's authors. "I will not be leaving all my wealth to my children because that would just ruin their lives." She is by no means the first to go public with this conviction. Bill Gates has put an estimated $30bn into the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This was supplemented, in 2009, by another $24bn or so from his friend Warren Buffett. Buffett has always been colorful, quotably clear on where he stands. His daughter often tells a story of finding herself without change for a car parking ticket-her father lent her $20, then promptly made her write him a check. "To suggest that the children of the wealthy should be just as wealthy," he has said, "is like saying the members of America's 2004 Olympic team should be made up only of the children of the 1980 Olympic team." Anita Roddick, the late founder of the Body Shop, told her kids that they would not inherit one penny. The money that she made from the company would go into the Body Shop Foundation, which isn't one of those awful tax shelters, like some in America. It just functions to take the money and give it away. 31. The billionaires mentioned in the passage don't want to leave much of their wealth to their children because _ . A. they prefer to give their wealth to charity B. they want their business to go on healthily C. they believe too much wealth will harm their children D. they hope their children can make more money themselves 32. What do we learn about Nicola Horlick? A. She has already given away about 25% of her wealth. B. She is the first one who declares to give away her wealth. C. She will leave only a small portion of her wealth to her kids. D. She inherited most of her wealth from her parents. 33. Buffett distinguishes himself for _ . A. his clear-cut position B. being strict with his children C. his talent in financial management D. being a giant in the stock market 34. According to Buffett's daughter, her father _ . A. refuses to lend her money B. wants her to invest in the Olympic Games C. never gives her more money than necessary D. always makes sure that she returns his money 35. It is implied in the last paragraph that some foundations are used by the rich to _ . A. provide shelter for the poor B. build good fame C. avoid paying tax D. support their business |
