单选题 Income taxes are the main source of federal revenue. The federal government obtains more than three-fourths of its revenue form income taxes. As its name indicated, an income tax is a tax on earnings. Both individuals and business corporations pay a federal income tax.
The oldest tax used in the United States today is the property tax. It provides most of the income for local governments. It provides at least a part of the income for all but a few states. It is not used by the federal government.
A sales tax is a tax imposed on purchases. Most people living in the United States know about sales taxes since they are used in all but four states. Actually there are several kinds of sales taxes, but only three of them are important. They are general sales taxes, excise taxes, and import taxes.
Other three closely related taxes are estate, inheritance, and gift taxes. Everything a person owns, including both real and personal property, makes up his or her estate. When someone dies, ownership of his or her property or estate passes to one or more individuals or organizations. Before the property is transferred, however, it is subject to an estate tax if its value exceeds a certain amount.
An inheritance is property, money, or securities received by one person from the estate of another person following that person's death. An inheritance tax is a tax based on the value of an inheritance. The person who receives the inheritance pays the tax. Again, an inheritance is taxed only if its value is more than a certain amount.
A person might give away most of his or her money and property before death to avoid estate and inheritance taxes. He or she might, except for one thing-the gift tax. A gift tax is imposed on any gift of property, money, or securities that is valued over a certain amount.
The federal government imposes both estate and gift taxes. Most states use the inheritance tax. A few use the estate tax in addition or instead. At least 12 states impose gift taxes.
单选题 We can infer from the text that in the United States, ______ states don't use sales taxes.
  • A. four
  • B. three
  • C. five
  • D. a few
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】
单选题 According to the text, one is not supposed to pay the inheritance tax if the value of the inheritance he receives ______ .
  • A. doesn't exceed a certain amount
  • B. exceeds a certain amount
  • C. is subject to an estate tax
  • D. is subject to on inheritance tax
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】
单选题 Before one's death, which of the following tax he can not avoid?
  • A. The estate tax.
  • B. The sales tax.
  • C. The gift tax.
  • D. The property tax.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】
单选题 The federal government imposes ______ .
  • A. many taxes
  • B. few taxes
  • C. inheritance and income taxes
  • D. estate and gift taxes
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】
单选题 The income tax is the most important tax, because the federal government ______ .
  • A. depends on it to tranfer its property
  • B. obtains most of its revenue from it
  • C. imposes more taxes to defend its ownership
  • D. receives a certain amount excise taxes
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】