Buying insurance (保险) is a way in which people can protect themselves against large losses. Protection against fire is one kind of insurance. Large numbers of people pay small sums of money to an insurance company. Although thousands of people have paid for fire insurance, only a few will lose their homes by fire. The insurance company will pay for these homes out of the small sums of money it has collected.
The first modern fire insurance company was formed in London, England, in the 1760s. A great fire had just destroyed most of the city, and people wanted protection against further losses. The first company grew rapidly. Soon other companies were founded in other areas.
Benjamin Franklin helped form the first fire insurance company in America in 1752, and then a new kind of insurance for farmers was suggested. The new insurance would provide protection against the loss of crops from storms.
Later on another new insurance company was started in America. This company, which offered life insurance, collected small sums of money regularly from many different men. If a man died, his family was given a large sum of money.
Over the years, insurance companies have offered new kinds of insurance protection. The new kinds of insurance cover losses from such accidents as car and plane crashes. Today, most people have some kind of insurance.
小题1:Who helped set up the first company in America?
A．Benjamin Franklin.
B．Businessmen.
C．The first insurance company in London.
D．Farmers.小题2:Insurance means ____.
A．Protection against the losses from the storms
B．protection against illness
C．Protection against accidents
D．all of the above小题3:The first modern insurance company offered ____.
A．life insurance
B．fire insurance
C．a new kind of insurance
D．both A and B小题4:Why do most people buy some kind of insurance today?
A．Insurance will keep their homes from burning.
B．People can protect themselves against large losses.
C．Insurance will pay for safety.
D．The insurance companies grow rapidly.
