Sandeep Mukerji was on his first visit to Thailand but would leave the “Land of

Sandeep Mukerji was on his first visit to Thailand but would leave the “Land of Smiles” with a frown and an empty pocket.

A stone’s throw from the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the 26-year-old Canadian ran into a monk in a robe. The monk toldhim that the attraction he was hoping to visit had been closed.

The monk then introduced Mukerji to ajewellery store instead. On the way there, three different people told him thatit was the last day of a once-a-year, tax-free jewellery promotion to encouragetourism.

They said that tourists can make a lot ofmoney by buying gems（宝石）in Thailand and selling them once at home.

Two hours later, Mukerji had spent US $ 1,250 on a set of almost worthless jewellery in the jewellery store.

“The whole process took me by surprise. Theytake advantage of your greed,” he said.

In fact, Mukerji is just one of a hugenumber of tourists who are cheated by the promise of making a fortune. The scam（诡计）brings Thailand morethan US $ 10 million each year.

Although tourist police stations havedisplayed posters to warn of the scam, many fresh-faced tourists still fallprey to the trick.

The police say they receive 5～10 complaints a day. Manymore may not realize they have been cheated until they go back home.

That authorities say that the jewellery scamis harmful to Thailand’s image, but getting rid of the cheats is hard.

Sanit Miphan, head of the police, said thescam has been running for about 15 years but not one jewellery shop owner hasbeen arrested.

The shops usually open for two weeks andthen close. They reopen and register under a new name. What’s more,overcharging（要价过高）itself is not breaking the law.

Yet, to keep the tourism business alive, thepolice said they would take action against any shop receiving more than 10complaints.

1.Sandeep Mukerji was cheated probablybecause of all the following EXCEPT that_______.

A. he was young

B. he believed that the monk wouldn’t cheatothers

C. he had more or less the wish to try hisfortune

D. the cheat scam was too skillful to befound out

2.How many people cheated Sandeen Mukerji?

A. Two         B.Three       C. Four           D.Five

3.Suppose everyone who wascheated lost as much as Mukerji did, how many visitors to Bankok would becheated each year?

A. About 6, 000   B. About 8, 000   C. About 10, 000.    D. About12, 000.

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Thai tourist police are carrying outtheir task very efficiently.

B. The management of Thai tourist market isvery strict.

C. Any shop receiving complaints will bepunished as seriously as possible.

D. It is hard for the police tocrack down（制裁） the cheats efficiently partly because manycheats’ deeds seem not to break the law.

试题答案

【答案】

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.D