The potential economic benefits of financial literacy extend beyond government budgets．More informed consumers--not just investors--would increase the efficiency of markets and help keep unscrupulous sellers at bay．If financial illiteracy leads to greater debt, then increased consumption today will be at the expense of less later, as interest payments weigh on household budgets．
　　Once people make financial decisions, they tend to stick to them even if a change might make more sense．Watson Wyatt, a consultancy, says that about half of Britons in defined-contribution pension plans (in which retirement benefits depend on investments performance) never change the allocation of assets．One-third have not even reviewed them for several years．There is evidence that such inertia is a feature of other financial markets, including the one for mortgages．
　　America has had a variety of financial-education programmes for some time, generally relying on the private sector．Most large companies and many smaller ones put on investment seminars for their employees, run by outside experts．Many of those who attend these seminars later increase their saving for retirement．
　　However, there is a fine line between education and advice．Although education and sales are meant to be strictly separated, many of those giving the seminars work for firms that sell financial products．Some employers have been hesitant to sponsor financial seminars for fear of being sued, notes Lynn Dudley of the American Benefits Council, a lobby group．Two bills now before Congress attempt to deal with this question．Meanwhile, a growing number of pension schemes offer lifestyle or life-cycle funds that skirt the question of advice by automatically shifting the mix of investments away from equities and towards bonds and cash as retirement nears．
　　Despite all the activity, experts caution against putting too much faith in financial education．This is not the silver bullet that some people think it is, says Ms Smith．No campaign can hope to reach everyone．In addition, although those with more knowledge of finance tend to save more and make higher returns on their long-term investments, the strength of the effect is not clear．
　　Annamaria Lusardi, an economist at Dartmouth College, and Olivia Mitchell, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, have found that few employees attend financial seminars even when they are offered in the workplace．Scepticism about hidden sales pitches and slanted advice abounds, particularly in the wake of recent mutual-fund scandals．Workers are entitled to believe this is not an objective voice, says Ms Lusardi．Many who attend do not absorb what they hear, for want of understanding or interest．[427 words]
　　1．It is true that______least benefit from financial literacy．
　　A．dishonest sellers
　　B．average consumers
　　C．household budgets
　　D．government budgets
　　2．Financial illiteracy can be illustrated by the fact that______
　　A．financial literacy extends beyond government budgets
　　B．interest payments weigh heavily on household budgets
　　C．many people keep their allocation of assets unchangeable
　　D．about half of Britons are in defined-contribution pension plans
　　3．Employers usually take a negative attitude toward______
　　A．financial advice
　　B．financial products
　　C．investment seminars
　　D．financial-education programmes
　　4．Few people attend investment seminars since______
　　A．there are hidden sales pitches
　　B．slanted advice is usually given
　　C．they are afraid that they might be trapped
　　D．they often fail to understand what is heard there
　　5．The author believes that______
　　A．more financial knowledge means more money to make
　　B．more financial knowledge is needed for one’ s retirement
　　C．more financial seminars should be put on by companies
　　D．less financial seminars will be sponsored by employers