Question

How do you pay for things? Do you usually use cash (现金), or do you like to pay by credit card(信用卡)? If you are like a lot of people, you probably have at least one credit card. Also, you might use it more often than you probably should.

Credit cards first became popular in the 1920s. At that time, businesses, such as hotels and companies, gave credit cards to their best customers (顾客). Unlike today’s credit cards, customers could only use these cards at the store or business that gave out the card. Customers had to pay for things in full. They couldn’t pay for something a little at a time.

In 1950, a businessman named MCNamara started a credit card company-Diners Club. Unlike earlier credit cards, this card could be used by customers at many restaurants. Customers liked the card because they didn’t have to carry a lot of cash with them. Restaurant owners liked the card, too. Why? They found out that customers usually spent more money when they could pay by credit cards.

In its first year of business, Diners Club provided 200 cards. The customers who got the cards from the diners Club could use them at 27 different restaurants. Today, Diners Club has 8 million customers, and they can use their cards in over 7.6 million businesses in more than 200 countries.

根据短文内容，回答问题。（10分）

1.Who could get credit cards in 1920s?

2.In 1920s, could the customers pay for something a little at a time?

3.Why did the customers like credit cards?

4.What made the restaurant owners happy when the customers used credit cards?

5.In how many countries can the credit card owners of Diners Club use their cards today?

 

Answer 1

1.At that time, only the best customers of businesses could get the card. / The best customers of businesses.

2.No. / No, they couldn’t.

3.Because they didn’t have to carry a lot of cash with them.

4.Customers usually spent more money when they could pay by credit cards.

5.In more than 200 countries. / In over two hundred countries.

【解析】

试题分析：你在购物的时候，用现金还是信用卡支付？如果你像许多人一样，也会有一张信用卡。接下来介绍了信用卡开始流行于20世纪20年代。客户喜欢这种卡，因为他们不用随身携带大量现金。业主们喜欢信用卡，因为顾客们能够消费的更多一些。

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.就餐者俱乐部，现在有多少国家中拥有？分析原文：Today, Diners Club has 8 million customers, and they can use their cards in over 7.6 million businesses in more than 200 countries.句意：今天，就餐者俱乐部有八百万的顾客，他们能在超过200个国家的超过七百六十万的商店使用他们的信用卡。明确答案为超过200个国家。故填：In more than 200 countries. / In over two hundred countries.

考点：新闻报道类短文阅读。