考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记(二)

考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记

(

二

)

TEXT 3

During the past generation, the American middle class family that once could count on hard work

and

fair

play

to

keep

itself

financially

secure

has

been

transformed

by

economic

risk

and

new

realities.

Now

a

pink

slip,

a

bad

diagnosis,

or

a

disappearing

spouse

can

reduce

a

family

from

solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.

In

just

one

generation,

millions

of

mothers

have

gone

to

work,

transforming

basic

family

economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications

of

these

changes,

but

few

have

looked

at

the

side

effect:

family

risk

has

risen

as

well.

Today's

families have budgeted to the limits of their new two paycheck status. As a result, they have lost

the parachute they once had in times of financial setback-a back up earner (usually Mom) who

could

go

into

the

workforce

if

the

primary

earner

got

laid

off

or

fell

sick.

This

worker

effect

help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made

up with extra income from an otherwise stay at home partner.

During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement

income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions

of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that

they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to

move

Social

Security

to

a

savings

account

model,

with

retirees

trading

much

or

all

of

their

guaranteed

payments

for

payments

depending

on

investment

returns.

For

younger

families,

the

picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families

have risen-and newly fashionable health savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal

Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families'

future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of

having a weak elderly parent-and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance-have

jumped eightfold in just one generation.

From

the

middle

class

family

perspective,

much

of

this,

understandably,

looks

far

less

like

an

opportunity

to

exercise

more

financial

responsibility,

and

a

good

deal

more

like

a

frightening

acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The

financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.

31

.

Today

'

s double income families are at greater financial risk in that

A

.

the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared

B

.

their chances of being laid off have greatly increased

C

.

they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics

D

.

they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance

32

.

As a result of President Bush

'

s reform, retired people may have

A

.

a higher sense of security

B

.

less secured payments

C

.

less chance to invest

D

.

a guaranteed future

33

.

According to the author, health savings plans will

A

.

help reduce the cost of healthcare

B

.

popularize among the middle class

C

.

compensate for the reduced pensions

D

.

increase the families

'

investment risk

34

.

It can be inferred from the last paragraph that

A

.

financial risks tend to outweigh political risks

B

.

the middle class may face greater political challenges

C

.

financial problems may bring about political problems

D

.

financial responsibility is an indicator of political status

35

.

Which of the following is the best title for this text?

A

.

The Middle Class on the Alert

.

B

.

The Middle Class on the Cliff

.

C

.

The Middle Class in Conflict

.

D

.

The Middle Class in Ruins

.

absolute 2 a.

绝对的，完全的

absorb 3 v.

①吸收；②吸引，使专心

account 22 n.

①账

(< /p>

目，户

)

；②叙述，说明；③价值，地位 ；

v.(for)

①说明，解释；②占；③

(take into)

考虑；顾及

airline 1 n.

①航线；②航空公司

alert 1 a.

①警惕的；②机灵的

assistance 2 n.

帮助，援助

attendant 1 n.

①服务员，值班员；②护理人员

author 69 n.

①作者；②创始人

auto 2 n.

汽车

being 9 n.

①生物，人；②存在，生存

budget 4 n.

预算；

v.< /p>

做预算

campaign 4 n.< /p>

①战役；②运动；

vi.

从事活动

challenge 10 n.

①挑战< /p>

(

书

)

；②艰巨 任务，难题；

v.

向

...