PASSAGE TWO Most people know that a lot is riding on their credit score, from the interest rates you pay on your loans, to your ability to rent an apartment, buy a home or car, and even to find a job. Companies are increasingly using credit scores as an objective measure of not only your credit, but your credibility. But, there's still a lot of confusion out there about credit scores and what they mean. Some people confuse a credit report with a credit score, when they are two different things. A credit report contains all the information in a person's credit file maintained by a Credit Bureau. The data in a credit report is interpreted through a complex mathematical process to determine a credit score, which is a single number that commonly ranges from 300 (terrible) to 850 (perfect). People also incorrectly assume that checking your credit score lowers it-- this is partly true. When applying for a loan or another open line of credit, creditors check your score to see if you are a viable candidate. This can penalize you and impact your score. Inquires made by you are not shown to creditors and will not lower your score. In fact, it's essential to know what your score is, because it can change at any time, and it impacts so many different areas of your life. Not paying your bills or making delinquent payments lowers your score and makes you undesirable to credit companies and advertisers. By consistently managing your score, you take the control back from creditors by knowing exactly how much you qualify for when it's time to take out a loan or open a new line of credit. Many companies have figured out ways to charge consumers for reporting on their credit scores. But, there is no reason to pay for this service as everyone has a right to this information, free of charge. That's exactly what you'll find with Credit Karma, a completely free service dedicated to empowering consumers to more actively manage their credit and financial health. They help you track your debt and finances by giving you instant access to your credit score, and finding you the best savings options for your credit cards, mortgage, auto loans, and more. You can log into your account as often as you like to quickly and easily track your credit score, credit attributes, and debt from a single source. They also believe in protecting privacy by allowing you to control who receives your financial data. Credit Karma never shares your information without your explicit consent. Their free interactive tools and simulators help you learn how to anticipate changes in your credit score. You can also compare your credit report to others and see how the various items on your credit report can affect your overall credit score. Another component that makes Credit Karma special (besides the fact they are 100 percent free) is the exclusive offers you gain access to from companies that value your credit worthiness. Their system finds and displays personalized offers from third party advertisers based on your credit profile. Credit Karma never discloses user information unless you respond to an offer. While some offers are ongoing, others will come and go quickly based on demand. 4. What is the difference between a credit report and a credit score? A. A credit report does not contain numbers. B. A credit score is much more objective. C. A credit report covers a person's credit information. D. A credit score is calculated by a Credit Bureau. 5. By taking advantage of the website Credit Karma, people can ___________. A. control who have access to their credit reports B. make some predictions about their credit scores C. learn the complex process used to determine their credit scores D. consult the experts when they make financial decisions 6. What can be learned from the passage? A. Credit Karma is one of the agencies that keep people's credit reports. B. Each credit-related decision people make links to their credit scores. C. Credit companies show favor towards users of Credit Karma. D. The lower a person's credit score is, the harder for him to have access to it.