Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)
Directions: In this part you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C)and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.
Protect Your Nest
It's never too early to protect your family's financial well-being. Yet because most of us are so busy juggling work and family commitments, we tend to neglect the things that don't require immediate attention. Some day, we think, we'll take care of the three essentials-retirement savings, insurance coverage and estate planning. Unfortunately, emergencies can strike and then it's too late. "Failure to plan is a huge mistake," Barbara Raasch, managing director at Wealth and Tax Advisory Services, Inc. , told us.
How can you avoid the "should have, could have, would have" scenario？ By putting these three items at the top of your "to do" list-protect your future, protect your family and protect your legacy (遗产).
Protect Your Future
The national savings rate averaged around 0.4% for the first half of this year, according to the U. S. Department of Commerce, meaning Americans spent a shopping 99.6% of their after-tax earnings. Even more frightening, in July the savings rate dropped below zero. We all know we should save more. But with so many goals to save for-a house, the kids' college tuition, your retirement, occasional vacations and a small emergency fund-it's easy to feel there's just not enough money to do it all.
Budget. The first step is to create a budget. Once you know what you're spending your money on, you can figure out What you don't need to spend it on-and stock those savings away. "Every month you have to pay yourself first," says Joe Moglia, CEO of Ameritrade. "Take a little out of your paycheck." It doesn't have to be much-it could be foregoing(放弃) that extra lattice or getting the DVD free at the library.
Retirement. Just about every survey of American investors these days shows that retirement is a main reason for saving. Yet an astounding number of people ignore the opportunities offered by employment-based retirement plans. According to a recent survey by Aon Consulting, more than 20% of those eligible for a 401k plan do not participate at all, while another 53% do not save at a rate high enough to take full advantage of their employers' matching contribution-the closest thing to free money in the retirement savings universe. Consider it money that grows without being taxed.
Emergency reserves. Many financial planners recommend that you have enough money in a savings or money-market account for at, least six to nine months of essential expenses, including your mortgage or rent, insurance premiums, credit card payments, utility and grocery bills and other fixed expenses, such as car payments or student loans. And it's always a good idea to have cash on hand once you are confronted with emergency situations. For example, if the ATMs in your neighborhood are out, you can have enough to cover your immediate needs for a week or so.
Protect Your Family
A major illness, an extended disability (残疾) or the loss of a job could wipe out your financial reserves and any prospect of being able to save enough to achieve your other life goals. Here's what you need to protect your savings:
Health insurance. A recent study of court records and direct interviews indicated that about half of personal bankruptcies in the U. S. are caused in part by medical debts. Only people over 65 are entitled to the medicare. So people under that age face enormous bills and many of them lack insurance.
If your company pro

A. Because we don't know what family financial well-being is.
Because we focus too much on developing family relationships.
C. Because we think work is much more important.
D. Because we think it needn't be dealt with immediately.