2017年12月英语四级考试真题及答案5（第2套）

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

For the past several decades,it seems there's been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America:Get a college education,find a reliable job,and buy your own home.But do Americans still believe in that path,and if they do,is it attainable?

The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream,what it takes to achieve their goals,and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful.Overwhelmingly,the results show that today，the idea of the American dream—and what it takes to achieve it—looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century.

By and large,people felt that their actions and hard work—not outside forces—were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out.But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy.

In the last seven years,Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success.Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal,a majority—52 percent—think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful.

Miguel Maeda,42,who has a master's degree and works in public health,was the first in his family to go to college,which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did.

While some,like Maeda,emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself,others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences.Sixty-year-old Will Fendley,who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree,thinks"personal drive"is far more important than just going to college.To Fendley,a sense of drive and purpose,as well as an effective high-school education,and basic life skills,like balancing a checkbook,are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America.

51．It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America,one had to have.

A．an advanced academic degree

B．an ambition to get ahead

C．a firm belief in their dream

D．a sense of drive and purpose

52．What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream?

A．More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize.

B．It remains alive among the majority of American people.

C．Americans'idea of it has changed over the past few decades.

D．An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.

53．What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success?

A．It still remains open to debate.

B．It has proved to be beyond doubt.

C．It is no longer as important as it used to be.

D．It is much better understood now than ever.

54．How do some people view college education these days?

A．It promotes gender equality.

B．It needs to be strengthened.

C．It adds to cultural diversity.

D．It helps broaden their minds.

55．What is one factor essential to success in America,according to Will Fendley?

A．A desire to learn and to adapt.

B．A strong sense of responsibility.

C．A willingness to commit oneself.

D．A clear aim and high motivation.

【参考答案】

51-55：ACCDD

【参考译文】

在过去的几十年里，对于如何在美国出人头地似乎有一个普遍的共识:接受大学教育，找到一份可靠的工作，买一套自己的房子。但美国人仍然相信这条路吗?如果他们相信，这条路能实现吗?

《杂志》(National Journal)最近的一项民意调查询问了受访者有关美国梦、实现目标的条件以及他们是否觉得自己在很大程度上可以控制自己的成功能力。压倒性的,结果表明:今天,美国——的想法如何实现它看起来完全不同的比20世纪后期。

总的来说，人们觉得他们的行为和努力工作——而不是外界的力量——是决定他们生活的决定因素。但受访者对于在当前经济形势下采取何种行动才能让生活更美好，显然有着复杂的感受。

在过去的七年里，美国人对教育能否带来成功越来越悲观。尽管他们认为上大学是一个相当容易实现的目标，但有52%的人认为年轻人不需要接受四年的大学教育就能获得成功。

42岁的米格尔·前田(Miguel Maeda)拥有硕士学位，从事公共卫生工作。他是家里第一个上大学的人，这让他有了一种经济稳定的感觉，而他的父母和祖父母却从未有过这种感觉。

虽然一些人，比如前田，强调学位的价值而不是教育本身，但其他人仍然认为大学是获得新视角和生活体验的一种方式。现年60岁的威尔·范德利(Will Fendley)在军队中有着成功的职业生涯，但从未获得过大学学位。他认为，“个人动力”远比上大学重要得多。对Fendley来说，动力和目标感，以及有效的高中教育，以及基本的生活技能，比如平衡支票簿，都是美国成功生活的必要因素。

小编推荐：

2017年12月英语四级考试真题及答案汇总（第2套）