单选题
How to Select a Fund

Eating better. Exercising. Investing. There are a lot of things you know should be doing. The problem is that getting started always seems to be the hardest part. For many investors, mutual funds are a good way to go, but trying to sort through the number of available choices—now more than 10000—makes this important task appear overwhelming. Let's look at some ways to cut that number down to a reasonable size, as well as other factors to consider when selecting your first fund.
41. ______
Before you begin examining potential investments, it's important to take some time to access your own goals and risk tolerance. If you start with a clear objective in mind, as well as an understanding as to how you might react if your investment loses money, you'll be less likely to purchase a fund that doesn't fit your needs. And that's what often leads to disappointment. It is important to look for funds that are appropriate for both your goals and your investment temperament(性情).
42. ______
One way to begin your search for a good fund is to use the Morningstar star rating. The rating is a useful tool for narrowing the field to funds that have done a good job of balancing return and risk in the past. To assign ratings, Morningstar uses a formula that compares a fund's risk-adjusted historical performance with that of other funds within four rating groups-domestic stock funds, international stock funds, taxable bond funds, and municipal bond funds.
43. ______
Funds that invest solely in a single market sectors, called specialty funds, often have impressive returns and may be great additions to a diversified portfolio(投资组合). However, the success of such funds depends largely on the fortunes of a particular market sector. Hence, specialty funds probably aren't the best way to start. For your first fund, look for a diversified stock fund that has exposure to different types of stocks.
44.______
There's no free lunch in fund investing: in addition to the sales fees that some fund companies charge, fund investors must also pay management fees and trading cost. Unfortunately, you don't necessarily get what you pay for—no one has ever shown that more expensive funds provide greater returns. Look for funds with reasonable costs. The expense ratio, which expresses annual costs as a percentage amount, is probably the best number to use when comparing mutual fund costs.
45.______
Whatever the market does, try to take it in stride. You're in for the long haul, so don't worry about the market's day-to-day gyrations. Relax and resist the temptation to monitor your first investment daily. Check in on your mutual funds once a month, and give your portfolio a thorough exam every 6 to 12 months. And consider adding to your fund each month. An automatic investment plan makes it a relatively painless process. Finally, remember that the ultimate measure of your success as an investor depends not on your owning the best-performing mutual fund. Only one fund will be the top performer over the next decade, and there's no way to predict which one it will be. Meeting your own financial goals should ultimately be the yardstick (标准) by which you measure your investment success.
[A] Watching related expenses and making wise choice
[B] Paying attention to details
[C] Weighing your financial goals and expectations first
[D] Maintaining realistic expectations
[E] Narrowing the search
[F] Not too special
[G] Choosing specialty funds

【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 第二段首句是主题句,说明了第一个应注意的问题是“确定自己的目标、了解自己对风险的承受能力”。其中的关键句是assess your own goals and risk tolerance;中间部分进行分析;末句呼应、重申主题句。C项出现了本段的关键词goals,而且first表明了它是第一个考虑的问题。因此C项概括了第二段的含义。注意weigh一词的含义在文中不是“称重量”,而是“掂量,认真考虑”。
【正确答案】 E
【答案解析】[解析] 第三段首句是主题句,指出可借助晨星星级评价系统来选择投资的基金。接着该段介绍了这种系统的特点是通过比较基金来缩小选择的范围(narrowing the field)。E项中narrow 和search两个词都在该段中出现,并且它与该段的内容相吻合,因此是正确项。
【正确答案】 F
【答案解析】[解析] 第四段先介绍了什么是“专项基金”及其特点,接着指出投资新手的最佳选择不是“专项基金”,而是多元化股票基金。F项中的special一词和该段specialty相呼应,该项与第四段结合起来表示的含义是“选择基金时不要太单一,而应多元化”。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 第五段先指出投资是要支付费用的,接着转折说投资不一定能带来回报,最后总结指出,要选择费用合理的基金,并用开支比率来比较基金的费用。A项出现了expenses一词,并且概括了第五段的内容,即“通过考虑费用来选择基金”。
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 第六段开篇提到,要保持轻松的心态,接着作者建议投资者不要过分关注所投资的基金,而只需定时管理即可。言外之意,对投资结果的期待要现实。D项表达了该段的含义。