25

Three in ten Americans commit financial infidelity (不忠行为) by lying to their partners about money, sometimes suffering consequences such as separation or divorce (离婚), according to a new survey.

The Harris Interactive online poll of 2019 adults released on Thursday showed 31 percent of American couples who have combined finances were not truthful about issues such as hiding cash or a bank account or about debt or earnings.

“Financial infidelity may be the new normal,” said Forbes.com, which performed the survey with the National Endowment for Financial Education.

One-third of respondents (响应者) also say they have been cheated, and both sexes lie to their partners about money in equal numbers. “These unwise behaviors cause great damage, to the relationship, which is really not worthwhile. We must consider how important a family is to all of us. We must be honest to our partners in everything including money,” said Ted Beck, chief executive of the National Endowment for Financial Education.

Sixteen percent of couples affected by financial infidelity said the cheat led to a divorce and 11 percent said it caused a separation. Sixty-seven percent said it led to an argument and for 42 percent it lessened trust in the relationship. What a great damage it is to the family members!

The most common lie, at 58 percent, was hiding cash. Fifty-four percent of respondents admitted hiding a minor purchase, 30 percent hid a bill, 16 percent did not disclose a major purchase and 15 percent hid a bank account.

Eleven percent lied about debt and an equal number were untruthful about earnings, the survey showed. It is suggested that all the couples should learn a lesson from this matter.

1. What does Ted Beck think of Americans committing financial infidelity?

A. Rewarding. B. Worthwhile. C. Unwise. D. Unfair.

2. What does the fifth paragraph mainly tell us?

A. The harm of financial infidelity.

B. The meaning of financial infidelity.

C. The explanation for financial infidelity.

D. The percentage of Americans committing financial infidelity.

3. What does the underlined word “lessened” mean in the fifth paragraph?

A. Raised. B. Dropped. C. Harmed. D. Reduced.

4. The largest percentage of Americans lie to their partners about ＿＿＿ .

A. hiding cash B. bank account D. earnings C. debt