题目内容
Being able to speak another language fluently is a great ________ when you’re looking for a job.A. chance B. importance
C. assistant D. advantage
D
解析: 指“语言优势”而不是“机会,重要性,助手”。
While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy was ruiningg their life plans, I couldn’t help but think the 20-somethings sounded like a bunch of spoiled who grew up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, certainly share their disappointment : my husband and I probably won’t be able to buy a house until we’re in our 40s, and we two are burdened by student loans(贷款). But why should it be any different? Being young persons in America, shouldn’t they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?
Consider some of these views shared in the story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won’t be able to have children for at least a decade because they can’t afford to buy a house yet.
I read that, and I thought what planet she is living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury(奢华), not a fertility requirement.
A 26-year-old in the story is disappointed that he can’t afford to get a Ph. D in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years.
Yes, it’s sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people’s expectations grew up at a time when everyone’s wealth appeared to be increasing, Their parents probably saw their home values rise along with their investments. “So you have people who have grown up in an environment where people had great expectations of what living well means,” says Kobliner.
This recession(经济衰退) will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems a lot better for our mental health to focus on being grateful---for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day---than on longing for some kind of luxury life.
【小题1】. What makes the author think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children?
A.They expect everything to be easy for them. |
B.They complain that the economy is spoiling their life plans. |
C.They are unwilling to face all of the challenges. |
D.They are burdened by student loans. |
A.baby production | B.pleasant | C.baby comfort | D.comfortable |
A.They can’t have children for at least a decade a decade to buy a house. |
B.They have only a one-bedroom apartment to live in. |
C.They can’t buy a house until 40 and are burdened by student loans. |
D.They despair at not being able to afford a PH. D in literature. |
A.Unbearable | B.Opposite | C.Doubtful | D.Understanding |
A.Young people afford to continue their study |
B.Young people can’t afford to buy a house |
C.Young people’s high hopes create despair |
D.The 20-somethings’ high expectations |
Computer people talk a lot about the need for other people to become “computer-literate.” But not all experts (专家) agree that this is a good idea.
One pioneer, in particular, who disagrees is David Tebbutt, the founder of Computertown UK. Although many people see this as a successful attempt to bring people closer to the computer. David does not see it that way. He says that Computertown UK was formed for just the opposite reason, to bring computers to people and make them “people-literate.” David Tebbutt thinks Computertowns are most successful when tied to a computer club but he insists there is an important difference between the two. The clubs are for people who have some computer knowledge already. This frightens away non-experts, who are happier going to Computertowns where there are computers for them to experiment on, with experts to encourage them and answer any questions they have. They are not told what to do, they find out.The computer experts have to learn not to tell people about computers, but have to be able to answer all questions people ask. People don’t have to learn computer terms(术语), but the experts have to explain in plain language. The computers are becoming “people-literate.”
1.Which of the following is David Tebbutt’s ides on the relationship between people and computers?
A.Computer learning should be made easier. |
B.There should be more computer clubs for experts. |
C.People should work harder to master computer use. |
D.Computers should be made cheaper so that people can afford them. |
2.We can infer from the text that “computer-lilerate” means_______.
A.being able to afford a computer |
B.being able to write computer programs |
C.working with the computer and finding out its value |
D.understanding the computer and knowing how to use it |
3.The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to the idea that Computertowns ___.
A.help to set up more computer clubs |
B.bring people to learn to use computers |
C.bring more experts to work together |
D.help to sell computers to the public |
4.David Tebbutt started Computertown UK with the purpose of______.
A.making better use of computer expert |
B.improving computer programs |
C.increasing omputersales |
D.popularising computers |