Commencement (毕业典礼) is a
time for idealism.
But economic reality is cruel everywhere; especially
for new graduate. They have been told repeatedly that a college degree is an
open sesame(芝麻) to the global economy. But that’s not
necessarily so, according to new research by two economists at he Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Frank Levy and Peter Temin.
It is true that people with college degrees make more
money than people without degrees. The gap has narrowed somewhat in recent
years, which is disturbing. But the earning power of college graduates still
far outpaces that of less-educated workers.
The bad news, though, is that a college degree does
not ensure a bigger share of the economics pie for many graduates. In recent
decades Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin show, only college-educated women have seen
their income grow in line with economy wide gains in productivity. The earnings
of male college graduates have failed to keep pace with productivity gains.
Instead, a huge share of productivity growth, which
expands the nation’s income, is going to Americans on the top of the income
scale. In 2005, the latest year with available data, the top of 1 percent of
Americans---whose average annual income was $ 1.1 million--- took in 21.8
percent of the nation’s income, their largest share since 1929.
Administration officials, and other politicians and
economists, often, believe that income inequality, reflects an education gap.
But Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin show that in the case of men, the average bachelor’s
degree is not enough to catch the rising tide of the global economy.
They argue that the real reason that inequality is
worsening is the lack of strong policies that broadly distribute economic
gains. In the past, for example, a more progressive income tax and unions
promote equality. Positive measures have been eroding and new ones have
not yet emerged, making the income gap even greater.
Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin conclude that only a new
government policy can restore general prosperity. That’s a challenge to the
nation’s leader and today’s graduates. America needs them to contribute to the
development of the nation in global economy.
1.The passage is mainly about that _______.
A.there is a
big income gap between female and male college graduates in America.
B.college
graduates find it hard to find an ideal job after graduation in America.
C.research
shows that American government should take measures to ensure income equality
for college graduates
D.college
degrees are losing value in America.
2.What is the main idea of paragraph 5?
A.The whole
nation has enjoyed a big income growth with the growth of productivity.
B.Much of the total
income in America has been gained by a few very rich people.
C.A small part
of people in America have income increase.
D.Upper class
Americans contribute most to productivity growth.
3.The underlined word “eroding” in paragraph 7
probably means _______.
A.being
gradually destroyed by wind or rain
B.gradually
reducing power
C.gradually
disappearing
D.gradually not
suitable
4.We can infer from the passage that _______.
A.female
college graduates have higher income than male ones.
B.female
college graduates have benefited from some governmental measures to ensure
their income growth.
C.income tax
can grantee income equality.
D.new measures
and policies have been taken to promote income equality.
5.From the passage, some economists believe that the
worsening income inequality is caused by ______.
A.lower college
degree of college graduates
B.lack of
proper governmental policies
C.gender
discrimination
D.underdevelopment
of economy and productivity.