1．
Read the following passage and choose the best sentence (A-H) to fill each of the gaps.
A Those shares are bundled into groups and then resold.
B These funds are actively managed and may hold a few investments in stocks or bonds in order to diversify.
C If a company that you own stock in goes bankrupt, as a common shareholder, you won’t receive money until the creditors, bondholders and preferred shareholders have all been paid off.
D An annuity can either be immediate or deferred: with a deferred annuity, you will not begin receiving payments for a certain period of time.
E Know more about the various investment choices available to you, such as stocks, bonds,and mutual funds.
F Those listed below are investments that any investor should be familiar with.
G The greatest drawback to collectibles is the fact that collectibles offer no income.
H It entitles you to a portion of the company’s profits as well as voting rights.
It’s impossible to miss the fact that stocks, real estate and bonds all make for decent investments. But there are so many different investment options, most of which get minimal marketing. (1) 1
American Depository Receipt (ADR)
ADRs are traded on U.S. stock markets just like regular stocks, but they actually represent shares in foreign corporations. An ADR is issued by a U.S.-based bank or brokerage, which buys a large number of shares from a company based outside the U.S. (2) 2 ADRs are a relatively simple way to invest in foreign companies and avoid the administrative and duty costs of international transactions.
2. Annuity
Annuities provide set payments at regular intervals to their owners. (3) 3 Deferred annuities are often contracted for life—they’re set up so that as long as you live, the insurance company will send you a check at a regular interval. Annuities are also either fixed (the payments are set) or variable (there is a guaranteed minimum payment, as well as payments based on the performance of an annuity investment portfolio).
3. Closed-End Investment Fund
A closed-end fund issues shares that are traded just like stocks but are actually closer to mutual funds in the way they are managed. Closed-end funds hold portfolios of securities—usually securities that meet very specific criteria. (4) 4 Some closed-end funds offer dividends.
4. Collectibles
Collectibles can be pretty much any physical asset with a value that increases over time. While most people consider fine art, stamps and similar purchases to be collectibles, there is no strict definition that includes or excludes a particular asset. (5) 5 However, a collectible,s appreciating value often outpaces inflation.
5. Common Stock
Common stock is a share of ownership in a particular company. (6) 6 The majority of stocks traded today are common stocks. While the benefits associated with owning stock can be great, it is a relatively risky investment. (7) 7
2．Match each vocabulary word on the left with the correct definition on the right.
inflation
creditor
indenture
