Ⅲ.阅读理解

(2013•安徽省级示范高中第二次联考)

Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday created in 2010，held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to support small business owners and help fuel the economy by shopping at their favorite local stores.

Small businesses are critical to the nation’s economy.There were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year.Over the past two decades，they created 65 percent of net new jobs.Their importance to local communities extends even further.For every $100 spent in locally-owned，independent stores，$68 returns to the community through taxes and other means.

“Small business is the engine of job creation in the US economy，” said Ken Chenault，the CEO of American Express.“It is also among the sectors (领域) hardest hit by the economic crisis.By spreading the word ab out Small Business Saturday，we can help raise awareness about the critical role small businesses play in cities and towns across the country at a time when they need support the most.”

Mayor Bloomberg said，“Small businesses are the glue that holds communities together，and we’ve always sought new ways to support them—something that became even more important when the national economic downturn began.When Ken Chenault told me about his idea for Small Business Saturday，I jumped at the opportunity to participate.This year，if you have the opportunity to shop on the Saturday after Thanksgiving，make it a point to visit local small businesses.It really can make an enormous difference for merchants trying to succeed.”

Ken Chenault hopes that supporting local business will be more than just a one-day event.“When we invest in small businesses，we are investing in Main_Streets—the places that give our towns and cities a unique sense of place，” said Mr Chenault.“By celebrating Small Business Saturday and shopping at independent businesses，everyone can play a part in strengthening our economy and supporting revitalization (复苏) on our Main Streets.”

1.We can know from the passage that Small Business Saturday________.

A.was created to protect the envir onment

B.was started by American Express

C.has a wide influence across America

D.is supported by most holiday shoppers

2.Who will directly benefit from Small Business Saturday?

A.Individuals.　　　　　 B.Holiday shoppers.

C.Small business owners.　　 D.Big business owners.

3.According to Ken Chenault，what are the bases of the US economy?

A.Families.　　 B.Communities.

C.Small businesses.　　 D.Big businesses.

4.What does “Main Streets” (in the last paragraph)refer to?

A.Small American businesses.

B.American towns and cities.

C.The US economies.

D.Big American companies.