为什么说英语的人会在退休后更穷？
A Yale University behavioral economist Keith Chen says his research proves that the grammar of the language we speak influences both our finances and our health. He says, if you speak English, you are likely to save less for your old age, smoke more and get less exercise than if you speak a language like Mandarin(普通话), German or Malay(马来语).
Keith Chen suggested that differences in the tenses of the world’s languages may explain why people in some countries save more money than people in other countries. He said that the future tense in English could actually make people believe the future is not important now. English speakers might think the future is separate from the present, which may make people not think about their future. He explained this could stop people saving money for their retirement.
Prof Chen divides the world’s languages into two groups, depending on how they treat the concept(概念) of time. Strong future-time reference(参考) languages (strong FTR) require their speakers to use a different tense when speaking of the future. Weak future-time reference (weak FTR) languages do not. He explained, “If I wanted to explain to an English-speaking colleague why I can’t come to meet him, I could not say ‘I go to a meeting’. English grammar would require me to say ‘I will go, am going, or have to go to a meeting’. If, on the other hand, I were speaking Mandarin, it would be quite natural for me to say ‘I go to a meeting’ since the context(语境) leaves little room for misunderstanding.”
1.What does the underlined word “finances” mean?
A Anything in a language.
B The speaking of a language.
C Something about money.
D The Mandarin or Malay.
解析：选C。C 词义猜测题。本句意为“我们所说的语言的语法会影响我们的 finances 和健康状况”，后一句“if you speak English, you are likely to save less for your old age, smoke more and get less exercise”解释说，如果你讲英语，你就很有可能会为老年储蓄更少、吸烟更多、锻炼更少，由此推断 finances是与钱相关的东西，表示“财务状况”。故选 C。
2.Why do English speakers save less money?
A Because they have grammar in English.
B Because future tense makes them think little about the future
C Because they spend their money on smoking.
D Because they don’t know the differences in tense
解析：选B。B 推理判断题。 根据第二段内容可知，英语里的将来时让人们认为将来是与现在分开的，他们就很少为将来考虑，所以这可能会阻止人们为退休攒钱。故选 B。
3.Which of the following is a strong FTR language?
A English.
B Mandarin.
C German.
D Malay
解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第三段内容可知 Keith Chen把英语分为“有较强未来时间参考”的语言(strongFTR)，结合第一段的 “if you speak a language like Mandarin(普通话), German or Malay(马来语)”可知，这三种语言是“有较弱未来时间参考”的语言(weak FTR)。故选 A。
4.Which is NOT RIGHT according to Keith Chen when speaking of the future in English?
A I will go to a meeting.
B I am going to a meeting.
C I have to go to a meeting.
D I go to a meeting.
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第三段的“I could not say ‘I go to a meeting’. English grammar would require me to say ‘I will go, am going, or have to go to a meeting’”可知英语里不能说 I go to a meeting，故选 D。
5.What’s the best title of the passage?
A We’d Better not Speak English.
B Any Language Is Better than English.
C Why You Should Speak Mandarin for Your Old Age.
D Why Speaking English Can Make You Poor When You Retire.
解析：选D。D 文章标题题。全文主要介绍了一位行为经济学家的研究，说明为什么讲英语的人会为退休攒更少的钱，D 项最符合文意。故选 D。