单选题

A CHALLENGE TO TRADITIONAL BANKING

Traditional methods of banking are under threat from a "new type of account" which is actually meant to be almost perpetually in debit. This account, to be (21) in a few months' time, is intended to (22) a range of personal banking services; such as current accounts, mortgages, personal loans and credit cards. Customers, who must (23) that they are at least five years from retirement, will be required to (24) a mortgage of at least 10,000 on their homes and have their salaries paid directly into the account. They will then have an agreed credit (25) of up to three times their annual salary, to use as they wish, as well as the usual (26) such as debit, credit and cash cards and a cheque book. Accounts in debit will be charged interest at a rate of 8.2 percent. This (27) favourably with the standard mortgage rate of 8.45 percent, personal loan rates of around 13 percent and credit card (28) of about 22 percent. When the debt is cleared—as it must be by the time the customer retires—and the account goes into credit, it will attract interest at about 5 percent. Some experts say that it will revolutionise personal banking in the UK. But the (29) has been dismissed as a gimmick by rival banks and criticized by consumer groups, which are voicing fears that many customers on average incomes could be (30) into serious debt.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】A．embarked开始，从事；B．launched 开始从事，着手进行一项新事业；C．issued发行出版；D．released释放，发行。根据题意，this account是新开设的，A、B、C、D四个选项中只有B项意思正确。A项是指开始做某事，而B项可指推出某种新产品或进行一项新事业，因此选B项是正确的。

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】A．associate联合，结交；B．enclose附上；C．mix混合；D．combine联合，结合。根据题意，D是比较符合整句意思的，This account is intended to综合current accounts(往来账户)、mortgages(抵押)、personal loans(个人贷款)和credit cards(信用卡)等业务。所以应选D项。

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】A. limit限制；B．barrier障碍；C．control控制；D．extent程度。根据句子...of up to three times their annual salary(大约年薪的三倍)，只有A项合适。同时，credit limit是习惯表达法，意思是“信贷限额”。因此此空应填limit。

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】A．means手段，方法；B．amenities舒适；C．facilities设备，设施；D．opportunities机会。facility可指为某种目的提供的设备，房屋或服务等，题中说他们可以使用the usual ______such as debit, credit and cash cards．C项符合题意。

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】A．connects联系；B．compares比较；C．relates联系；D．differs区别。根据题意，作者是把8.45%的利率与8.2%的利率作比较，再加上后面有介词“with”—with the standard mortgage rate of 8.45%，所以一眼看出就应选B。