Listen this way听力教程答案4

PART 1-B

Investing is a way to make money with your money. First, you have to earn money. As a kid, you get money from allowance, gifts, services, or from selling goods such as lemonade. Try to save some, if not all of this money. The next step is to make your money grow through investing.

There are two main reasons why you should invest. The first is to stay ahead of inflation and the second is to achieve financial goals. Inflation causes the increase of prices. When a Big Mac goes up from $1.20 to $1.50 or when gas goes up from $1.30 to $1.70 a gallon, we say that is inflation. You need to make more money just to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Financial goals can be separated into two types: short-term goals and long-term goals. The first refers to the things that you need or want now or within the year, such as a bike, a computer, or a video game. Generally, it takes less money to reach these short-term goals. However, long-term goals are expensive and require some planning. They are things you need or want in a few years or more, for example, going to college, buying a house, and even starting a business.

Investing is like “planting” money. A small amount of money invested will often grow to a larger sum over time. You’ve heard the phrase, “ Time is money.” With investing, time also makes money.

Although investing can make money with money, the downside of investing is that there is a risk of losing your money. The key to investing is to minimize the risk and to maximize the financial reward.

PART 2-B

On Thursday, April 17, “ National Teach Children to Save Day,” 2500 bankers will make 5000 presentations in elementary school classrooms across the country to teach children how to save money.

“Bankers are committed to investing in the future of children because we want them to be able to make smart financial decisions throughout their lifetime,” said American Bankers Association Executive Vice-president Donald G. Ogilvie, “ Education and money management skills are keys to a better life.”

The ABA Education Foundation declared “ National Teach Children to Save Day” as a way to show banking industry support for teaching children money management skills and encouraging them to save money for the future. In 1996, Americans saved only 4.9% of their disposable incomes, compared to 1970 when they saved 8%.

The Foundation coordinated a great effort with state bankers associations to encourage bankers to participate in “National Teach Children to Save Day”. It also prepared a resource kit with tools to help bankers make presentations in classrooms. More than 125 000 students will be part of this national initiative.

The ABA Education Foundation also offers tips for parents to foster the savings habit in their children:

Give them an allowance with the understanding that part of it goes into their own savings—a first step towards learning to budget