The age of gilded youth (纨绔子弟) is over. Today’s under-thirties are the first generation for a century who can expect a lower living standard than their parents. Research into the lifestyles and prospects of people who were born since 1970 shows that they are likely to face a lifetime of longer working hours, lower job security and higher taxes than the previous generation. When they leave work late in the evening, they will be more likely to return to a small rented flat than to a house of their own. When, eventually, they retire, their pensions are far lower in real terms than those of their immediate forebears.
These findings are revealed in a study of the way how the ageing of Britain’s population is affecting different generations. Anthea Tinker, professor of social gerontology at King’s College London, who carried out much of the work, said the growth of the proportion of people over 50 had reversed the traditional flow of wealth from older to younger generations. “Today’s older middle-aged and elderly are becoming the new winners.” she said, “They made relatively small contributions in tax but now make relatively big claims on the welfare system. Generations born in the last three to four decades face the prospect of handing over more than a third of their lifetime’s earnings to care for them.”
The surging number of older people, many living alone, has also increased demand for property and pushed up house prices. While previous generations found it easy to raise a mortgage, today’s under-thirties have to live with their parents or rent. If they can afford to buy a home, it is more likely to be a flat than a house. Laura Lenox-Conyngham, 28, grew up in a large house and her mother did not need to work. Unlike her wealthy parents, she graduated with student and postgraduate loan debts of £13,000. She now earns about £20,000 a year, preparing food to be photographed for magazines. Her home is a one-bedroom flat in central London and she sublets the lunge sofa-bed to her brother. “My father took pity and paid off my student debts.” she said, “But I still have no pension and no chance of buying a property for at least a couple of years-and then it will be something small in a bad area. My only hope is the traditional one of meeting a rich man.” Tinker’s research reveals Lenox-Conyngham is representative of many young professionals, especially in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol.
1. By saying “the growth of the proportion…to younger generations” (Para. 2), Anthea Tinker really means that ________.
2. Why are today’s older middle-aged and elderly becoming the new winners?
3. Which factor pushed house prices?
4. In what way does Laura Lenox-Conyngham make her living?
5. We can conclude from the passage that ________.
问题1选项
A.currently wealth flows from old generation to younger generation
B.traditionally wealth flows from younger generation to old generation
C.with the increasingly big population of over 50, the trend arises that wealth flows from younger generation to old generation
D.with more and more people of over 50, traditions have been reversed
问题2选项
A.Because they contributed a small portion in lax but enjoy more on the welfare system.
B.Because they contributed a lot in tax and now can claim much on the welfare system.
C.Because they made small contributions, but now can make money easily.
D.Because they outnumber younger generation and enjoy more privileges in the present society.
问题3选项
A.Many young men, who live alone, have increased demand for houses.
B.Many young men need to rent more houses.
C.It is easy to apply for a mortgage tor young generation.
D.The number of older people, many of whom live alone, becomes bigger and bigger.
问题4选项
A.By taking photographs for magazines.
B.By marring a rich man.
C.By subletting the lounge sofa-bed to her brother.
D.By preparing food for photographs for some magazines.
问题5选项
A.Today’s under-thirties are leading a miserable life in Britain
B.Laura Lenox-Conyngham’s attitude to work and life represents that of many young professionals in Britain
C.Life can get harder for under-thirties in Britain
D.Elders enjoy extremely high living standards in Britain
第1题:C
第2题:A
第3题:D
第4题:A
第5题:C
1.【试题答案】C
【试题解析】推理判断题。根据第二段第二句Anthea Tinker…said the growth of the proportion of people over 50 had reversed the traditional flow of wealth from older to younger generations.(Anthea Tinker表示,50岁以上人口比例的增长逆转了财富从老一辈流向年轻一代的传统趋势。),可知因为50岁以上人口比例的增长,财富从老一辈流向年轻一代的传统趋势被逆转。结合第一段第三句Research into the lifestyles and prospects of people who were born since 1970 shows that they are likely to face a lifetime of longer working hours, lower job security and higher taxes than the previous generation.(对1970年以后出生的人的生活方式和前景的研究表明,与上一代人相比,他们可能终生面临更长的工作时间、更低的工作保障和更高的税收。)和第二段第一句These findings are revealed in a study of the way how the ageing of Britain’s population is affecting different generations.(一项关于英国人口老龄化如何影响不同世代的研究揭示了这些发现。),可知Anthea Tinker的研究对老一代和年轻一代的财富进行对比,是为了证明人口老龄化让财富从年轻一代流向老一代,C选项“随着50岁以上的人口越来越多,出现了财富从年轻一代流向老一代的趋势”正确。A选项“目前财富从老一代流向年轻一代”和B选项“在传统上财富从年轻一代流向老一代”:和文中观点相反,属于反向干扰。D选项“随着50岁以上的人口越来越多,传统被颠覆了”:文中的重点是人口老龄化对财富趋势的影响,而不是对传统的改变,属于曲解原文。因此C选项正确。
2.【试题答案】A
【试题解析】事实细节题。根据第二段第三、四句“Today’s older middle-aged and elderly are becoming the new winners.” she said, “They made relatively small contributions in tax but now make relatively big claims on the welfare system.”(“如今的中老年人口正在成为新的赢家。”她说,“他们缴纳的税款相对较少,但现在对福利制度的要求相对较高。”),可知A选项“因为他们贡献得少,但在福利制度上享受更多”正确。B选项“因为他们缴纳了很多税收,现在可以要求更多的福利制度”:他们没有缴纳很多税款,属于反向干扰。C选项“因为他们贡献得少,但现在可以很容易地赚钱”和D选项“因为他们在数量上超过了年轻一代,在当今社会享有更多的特权”:文中没有提到,属于无中生有。因此A选项正确。
3.【试题答案】D
【试题解析】事实细节题。根据第三段第一句The surging number of older people, many living alone, has also increased demand for property and pushed up house prices.(老年人数量的激增,其中许多人独自生活,也增加了对房产的需求,推高了房价。),可知D选项“老年人的数量越来越多,其中许多人独自生活”正确。A选项“许多独自生活的年轻人对房子的需求增加了”和B选项“许多年轻人需要租更多的房子”:文中说的是老年人而非年轻人对房子的需求增加,属于曲解原文。C选项“年轻人很容易申请抵押贷款”:根据第三段第二句previous generations found it easy to raise a mortgage(前几代人很容易就能拿到抵押贷款),可知是前几代人而非现在的年轻人很容易申请抵押贷款,与题干中房价上涨的内容无关,属于曲解原文和出处错位。因此D选项正确。
4.【试题答案】A
【试题解析】事实细节题。根据第三段第六句She now earns about £20,000 a year, preparing food to be photographed for magazines.(她现在一年能挣2万英镑,以为杂志拍照为生。),可知A选项“通过为杂志拍照”正确,D选项“通过为一些杂志拍摄照片而准备食物”不符合原文意思,属于曲解原文。B选项“嫁给一个有钱人”:根据第三段倒数第二句My only hope is the traditional one of meeting a rich man.(按照传统,我唯一的希望就是遇到一个有钱人。),这里指的是她的想法而非谋生方式,属于出处错位。C选项“把沙发床转租给她哥哥”:根据第三段第七句she sublets the lunge sofa-bed to her brother(她把沙发床转租给了她的弟弟),这是她做过的事情,但并不以此为生,属于出处错位。因此A选项正确。
5.【试题答案】C
【试题解析】推理判断题。文章在第一段第二句提出Today’s under-thirties are the first generation for a century who can expect a lower living standard than their parents.(如今30岁以下的人是一个世纪以来第一代生活水平低于他们父母的人。),随后通过研究和具体的例子来证明这一点,C选项“在英国,30岁以下的人的生活可能会变得更加艰难”正确。A选项“在如今的英国,30岁以下的人过着悲惨的生活”:文中表示30岁以下的人处境更难,但没有到很悲惨的地步,属于曲解原文。B选项“Laura Lenox-Conyngham对工作和生活的态度代表了英国许多年轻专业人士的态度”:根据文章最后一句Tinker’s research reveals Lenox-Conyngham is representative of many young professionals(Tinker的研究表明Lenox-Conyngham是许多年轻专业人士的代表),文中没有表明她对工作和生活的态度如同其他年轻专业人士,属于曲解原文。D选项“在英国,老年人享有极高的生活水平”:文中提到老年人纳税较少,但享受的福利力度较大,但不等于生活水平极高,属于曲解原文。因此C选项正确。