Bankruptcy rates in the U.S. have been growing for more than two decades despite generally rising levels of personal income. The most prominent explanation puts the blame directly on credit cards，which became vastly more popular in the past 30 years. University of Pennsylvania law professor David A.Skeel notes that a 1978 Supreme Court decision allowed credit-card companies to charge the interest rate allowed in their state of incorporation. As a result， many incorporated in the high-rate states of Delaware and South Dakota.
Being able to charge high rates throughout the country，they could afford to issue cards to those with limited ability to repay. Many high-risk cardholders，overburdened with debt，filed for bankruptcy. Skeel also notes that the impersonality of credit-card borrowing may have helped weaken the moral imperative to repay debts： in the 1960s a prospective borrower met face-to-face with a bank lending officer， but today the borrower gets credit by responding to a junk-mail offer.
Other developments also fueled the rise in bankruptcy， including medical bills. A Harvard University study found that about a quarter of filers cited illness or injury as the specific reason for their troubles. Loss of jobs probably also drove some credit-card holders into bankruptcy. Other possible contributors include the growth of the gambling industry in recent years and the Supreme Court’s 1977 decision to allow lawyers to advertise directly to the general public. Changes in bankruptcy law apparently have had little effect on filings.
The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 was designed to make it easier for consumers to pay off debts and start anew. As under previous acts，penniless debtors could file for complete discharge of debts under Chapter 7，and debtors with substantial assets could arrange for partial repayment under Chapter 13. Most filers opted for the more generous provisions of Chapter 7. During the six years following implementation of the act，filings rose substantially. The act was amended in 1984 to curb opportunistic petitions. However，filings went in the opposite direction than expected.
Evidently，easy credit and other debt-creating forces have been more powerful. The latest legal effort is the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005，which went into effect in October. The new act lays down far more strict standards for debtors，including a test to qualify for Chapter 7 relief. Despite the new restrictions，bankruptcy experts tend to be skeptical or noncommittal about the effectiveness in reducing filings.
According to Paragraph 1，bankruptcy rates in the U.S.have been increasing mainly because__________.
本题句意为“根据第一段，美国的破产率一直在上升，主要是因为······”
A选项：在20世纪70年代，拥有信用卡是一种流行趋势；B选项：信用卡公司只向那些无法偿还高利率的人收费；C选项：全国各地许多负债的人很容易就宣告破产；D选项：许多债务缠身的信用卡持有人已申请破产。第一段中的The most prominent explanation puts the blame directly on credit cards直接指出破产率的上升主要归咎于高利率信用卡的使用，高风险信用卡持有人债务缠身，不得不申请破产。故选C。
By saying “the impersonality of credit-card borrowing”（Line 1.Paragraph 2），the author implies that___________.
本题句意为：通过说“信用卡借贷的非个人化”（第2段第1行），作者暗示······
A选项：电子邮件已经取代了人际交往；B选项：与银行家面谈将加强道德；C选项：人们可以通过回复邮件来拥有信用卡；D选项：信用卡借贷已经失去了道德义务。根据第二段in the 1960s a prospective borrower met face-to-face with a bank lending officer， but today the borrower gets credit by responding to a junk-mail offer.可知，在20世纪60年代，人们通过面谈的方式借贷，如今利用邮件借贷，后者比前者更可能导致持卡人松懈还款责任。故选C。
Which of the following is true of the other factors fueling the bankruptcy rise？（ ）
本题句意为“对于推动破产率上升的其他因素，以下哪一项是正确的？”
A选项：缺乏医疗保险带来了社会问题；B选项：失业削弱了持卡人偿还债务的能力；C选项：赌博业的发展抑制了金钱的浪费；D选项：政府当局已决定使破产合法化。根据第三段Loss of jobs probably also drove some credit-card holders into bankruptcy.可知，失业可能也导致一些信用卡持有人破产。故选B。
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 was amended in order to_____________.
本题句意为“1978年《破产改革法》进行了修订，以······”
A选项：促进宽松的信贷和备案；B选项：反债务制造力量；C选项：给予债务人更多自由；D选项：削弱投机申请。根据第五段The act was amended in 1984 to curb opportunistic petitions.可知，为了抑制投机人士申请破产，最高法院修改了法案。故选D。
We can conclude from the last paragraph that____________.
本题句意为“通过最后一段可总结出······”
A选项：尽管做出了法律努力，但破产问题仍存在不确定性；B选项：有关破产的新法案将保护债务人；C选项：从长远来看，美国的破产将减少；D选项：破产专家不关心申请的有效性。根据最后一段Despite the new restrictions，bankruptcy experts tend to be skeptical or noncommittal about the effectiveness in reducing filings.可知尽管设立了新的限制，专家对此法案能否有效降低破产申请倾向持怀疑态度或不发表任何意见。故选A。