[单项选择] HOW THE CREDIT CARD CAPTURED AMERICA
The proliferation of platinum American Express cards in the 1980s spawned rumors of an ultimate, highly exclusive, never publicized "Black Card". Carried by billionaires, it reportedly allowed holders to demand private shopping sprees at the world’s most exclusive shops and to summon helicopters in the middle of Sahara. American express vehemently denies the existence of such a charge card. But the persistence of the myth suggests the social importance credit cards have for so many Americans. As one business writer puts it, "to have one’s credit cards canceled is now akin to being excommunicated by the medieval church."
America’s love affair with the credit card began in 1949, when businessman Frank X. McNamara finished a meal in a New York restaurant and then discovered he had no cash. In those days, gasoline and store charge cards were common, but cash was standard for almost everything e
A. Alice Griffin got a card.
B. Credit card shoppers had created a bonanza for the bank.
C. Many Chicagoans could use the card they found.
D. Chicago’s finest restaurants had a policy of "preferred customers".

[单项选择] HOW THE CREDIT CARD CAPTURED AMERICA
The proliferation of platinum American Express cards in the 1980s spawned rumors of an ultimate, highly exclusive, never publicized "Black Card". Carried by billionaires, it reportedly allowed holders to demand private shopping sprees at the world’s most exclusive shops and to summon helicopters in the middle of Sahara. American express vehemently denies the existence of such a charge card. But the persistence of the myth suggests the social importance credit cards have for so many Americans. As one business writer puts it, "to have one’s credit cards canceled is now akin to being excommunicated by the medieval church."
America’s love affair with the credit card began in 1949, when businessman Frank X. McNamara finished a meal in a New York restaurant and then discovered he had no cash. In those days, gasoline and store charge cards were common, but cash was standard for almost everything e
A. The holder can spend freely at the best shops.
B. The credit card allows holders to pay their check without cash.
C. The holders can summon helicopters in desert.
D. The credit card is very important in American society.

[单项选择] HOW THE CREDIT CARD CAPTURED AMERICA The proliferation of platinum American Express cards in the 1980s spawned rumors of an ultimate, highly exclusive, never publicized "Black Card". Carried by billionaires, it reportedly allowed holders to demand private shopping sprees at the world’’s most exclusive shops and to summon helicopters in the middle of Sahara. American express vehemently denies the existence of such a charge card. But the persistence of the myth suggests the social importance credit cards have for so many Americans. As one business writer puts it, "to have one’’s credit cards canceled is now akin to being excommunicated by the medieval church." America’’s love affair with the credit card began in 1949, when businessman Frank X. McNamara finished a meal in a New York restaurant and then discovered he had no cash. In those days, gasoline and store charge cards were common, but cash was standard for almost everything else. The embarrassed McNamara c
A. The holder can spend freely at the best shops
B. The credit card allows holders to pay their check without cash
C. The holders can summon helicopters in desert
D. The credit card is very important in American society.

[简答题]

In the latest round of credit-card reforms, issuers and retailers are both playing the consumer-friendly angle. Currently lawmakers are debating whether to cut interchange fees, the tab that merchants pay to card issuers each time a customer uses plastic. While retailers claim they would pass the savings on to shoppers in the form of lower prices, card companies argue the legislation will make credit less convenient and more costly--and they may be right.
Merchants have long complained about interchange fees. They say the costs, which amount to roughly 1.6% of every transaction, erode already razor-thin margins. Last year retailers, the main supporters of three bills now working their way through Congress, forked over an estimated $ 48 billion in card fees. "We can’t keep absorbing these fees," Kathy Miller, a grocery store owner in Elmore, Vt. , testified at a congressional hearing in early October.
In their quest to win over lawmakers, retailers

[简答题]A. How do credit card companies provide money
B. How are credit cards important to companies
C. How do the companies exchange credit cards for money
D. How do the companies make profits