As the latest crop of students pen their undergraduate application form and weigh up their options, it may be worth considering just how the point, purpose and value of a degree has changed and what Generation Z need to consider as they start the third stage of their educational journey.
Millennials were told that if you did well in school, got a decent degree, you would be set up for life. But that promise has been found wanting. As degrees became universal, they became devalued. Education was no longer a secure route of social mobility. Today, 28 percent of graduates in the UK are in non-graduate roles, a percentage which is double the average among OECD countries.
This is not to say that there is no point in getting a degree, but rather stress that a degree is not for everyone, that the switch from classroom to lecture hall is not an inevitable one and that other options are available.
Thankfully, there are signs that this is already happening, with Generation Z seeking to learn from their millennial predecessors, even if parents and teachers tend to be still set in the degree mindset. Employers have long seen the advantages of hiring school leavers who often prove themselves to be more committed and loyal employees than graduates. Many too are seeing the advantages of scrapping a degree requirement for certain roles.
For those for whom a degree is the desired route, consider that this may well be the first of many. In this age of generalists, it pays to have specific knowledge or skills. Postgraduates now earn 40 percent more than graduates. When more and more of us have a degree, it makes sense to have two.
It is unlikely that Generation Z will be done with education at 18 or 21; they will need to be constantly up-skilling throughout their career to stay employable. It has been estimated that this generation, due to the pressures of technology, the wish for personal fulfillment and desire for diversity, will work for 17 different employers over the course of their working life and have five different careers. Education, and not just knowledge gained on campus, will be a core part of Generation Z’s career trajectory.
Older generations often talk about their degree in the present and personal tense: “I am a geographer.” or “I am a classicist.” Their sons or daughters would never say such a thing; it’s as if they already know that their degree won’t define them in the same way.
1. The author suggests that Generation Z should ________.
2. The percentage of UK graduates in non-graduate roles reflect ________.
3. The author considers it a good sign that ________.
4. It is advised in Paragraph 5 that those with one degree should ________.
5. What can be concluded about Generation Z from the last two paragraphs?
问题1选项
A.be careful in choosing a college
B.be diligent at each educational stage
C.reassess the necessity of college education
D.postpone their undergraduate application
问题2选项
A.Millennial’s opinions about work
B.the shrinking value of a degree
C.public discontent with education
D.the desired route of social mobility
问题3选项
A.generation Z are seeking to earn a decent degree
B.school leavers are willing to be skilled workers
C.employers are taking a realistic attitude to degrees
D.parents are changing their minds about education
问题4选项
A.make an early decision on their career
B.attend on the job training programs
C.team up with high-paid postgraduates
D.further their studies in a specific field
问题5选项
A.Lifelong learning will define them.
B.They will make qualified educators.
C.Degrees will no longer appeal them.
D.They will have a limited choice of jobs.
第1题:C
第2题:B
第3题:C
第4题:D
第5题:A
第1题:
【整体分析】
来源：The Telegraph（《每日电讯报》）于2020年12月18日刊登的文章Don’t Fixate over Your UCAS Form—One Degree Won’t Define Generation Z（不要拘泥于你的大学入学申请表——一个学位并不能定义Z世代）。
主题：文章主要探讨了学位的价值和目的的变化。随着大学学位越来越普遍，学位不一定是一个人职业生涯的决定性因素，学生在做决定之前应该考虑所有的选择，保证终身学习才是Z世代们的理想目标。
结构：
【选项释义】
The author suggests that Generation Z should ________. 作者建议，Z世代应该________。
A. be careful in choosing a college A. 在选择大学时要谨慎
B. be diligent at each educational stage B. 在每个教育阶段都要勤奋努力
C. reassess the necessity of college education C. 重新评估大学教育的必要性
D. postpone their undergraduate application D. 推迟他们的本科申请
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词Generation Z可以定位到文章第一段，本段首先说到“当最新一批学生填写他们的本科申请表并权衡他们的选择时（pen their undergraduate application form and weigh up their options），也许值得考虑一下学位的意义、目的和价值发生了怎样的变化（how the point, purpose and value of a degree has changed）”，接着说到“Z世代在开始他们教育旅程的第三阶段时需要考虑什么（what Generation Z need to consider）”，说明大学学位的意义、目的和价值已经发生了变化，所以作者建议Z世代应该重新考虑和评估自己是否需要大学教育。因此C选项“重新评估大学教育的必要性”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“在选择大学时要谨慎”，由“权衡他们的选择（weigh up their options）”可知，此处是描述学生正在做的事，而不是作者向Z世代提出的建议，属于张冠李戴；
B选项“在每个教育阶段都要勤奋努力”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有；
D选项“推迟他们的本科申请”，由“Z世代在开始他们教育旅程的第三阶段时需要考虑什么（what Generation Z need to consider）”可知，此处只是说在申请大学之前要考虑清楚，而不是需要推迟申请，属于过度推断。
第2题:
【选项释义】
The percentage of UK graduates in non-graduate roles reflect ________. 英国毕业生从事无须本科学历工作的比例反映了________。
A. Millennial’s opinions about work A. 千禧一代对工作的看法
B. the shrinking value of a degree B. 学位的价值在缩小
C. public discontent with education C. 公众对教育的不满
D. the desired route of social mobility D. 社会阶级流动的理想途径
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词UK graduates in non-graduate roles可以定位到文章第二段最后一句“如今，英国28%的毕业生从事不需要大学文凭的工作（28 percent of graduates in the UK are in non-graduate roles），这一比例是经合组织国家平均水平的两倍”，上文说到“随着学位的普及，它们的价值也开始降低（devalued）。教育不再是社会阶级流动的可靠途径（no longer a secure route of social mobility）”，说明这一数据反映了大学学位的价值降低。因此B选项“学位的价值在缩小”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“千禧一代对工作的看法”，由“千禧一代（Millennials）被告知，如果你在学校表现良好，获得一个体面的学位，你就能过上好日子”可知，这不是28%的数据反映的内容，属于出处错位；
C选项“公众对教育的不满”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有；
D选项“社会阶级流动的理想途径”，由“教育不再是社会阶级流动的可靠途径（no longer a secure route of social mobility）”可知，教育不再能实现社会阶级流动，许多毕业生从事着无须本科学历的工作，所以这一数据不能反映社会阶级流动的理想途径，属于曲解原文。
第3题:
【选项释义】
The author considers it a good sign that ________. 作者认为________是一个好迹象。
A. generation Z are seeking to earn a decent degree A. Z世代正在寻求获得一个体面的学位
B. school leavers are willing to be skilled workers B. 中学毕业生愿意成为技术工人
C. employers are taking a realistic attitude to degrees C. 雇主采取务实的态度看待学位
D. parents are changing their minds about education D. 父母正在改变对教育的看法
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词sign可以定位到文章第四段第一句“值得庆幸的是，有迹象表明这已经发生了（there are signs that this is already happening）”，接着说到“雇主们早就看到了雇佣中学毕业生的优势（the advantages of hiring school leavers），他们往往证明自己比大学毕业生更敬业、更忠诚。许多人也看到了对某些职位取消学历要求的好处（the advantages of scrapping a degree requirement for certain roles）”，说明雇主现在是从实际出发来看待学位在雇用员工中的作用，而不是一味要求学历，这在作者看来是一个好迹象。因此C选项“雇主采取务实的态度看待学位”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“Z世代正在寻求获得一个体面的学位”，由“Z世代寻求向他们千禧一代的前辈学习（Generation Z seeking to learn from their millennial predecessors）”可知，现在的Z世代并没有追求体面的学位，属于反向干扰；
B选项“中学毕业生愿意成为技术工人”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有；
D选项“父母正在改变对教育的看法”，由“父母和老师往往仍然固守学位至上的思维定式（parents and teachers tend to be still set in the degree mindset）”可知，父母仍然坚持学位至上，对教育的看法没有改变，属于反向干扰。
第4题:
【选项释义】
It is advised in Paragraph 5 that those with one degree should ________. 第五段中建议拥有一个学位的人应该________。
A. make an early decision on their career A. 尽早确定自己的职业
B. attend on the job training programs B. 参加在职培训项目
C. team up with high-paid postgraduates C. 与高薪的研究生合作
D. further their studies in a specific field D. 在专门领域继续深造
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词with one degree可以定位到文章第五段最后一句“当越来越多的人拥有一个学位时，拥有两个学位是明智的（it makes sense to have two）”。说明作者建议拥有一个学位的人继续深造，获得研究生学位。因此D选项“在专门领域继续深造”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“尽早确定自己的职业”，B选项“参加在职培训项目”和C选项“与高薪的研究生合作”在文中均没有提及，属于无中生有。
第5题:
【选项释义】
What can be concluded about Generation Z from the last two paragraphs? 从最后两段可以得出关于Z世代的什么结论？
A. Lifelong learning will define them. A. 终身学习将定义他们。
B. They will make qualified educators. B. 他们将成为合格的教育工作者。
C. Degrees will no longer appeal them. C. 学位将不再吸引他们。
D. They will have a limited choice of jobs. D. 他们对工作的选择会很有限。
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词the last two paragraphs可以定位到文章第六、七段，第六段说到“这一代人在其职业生涯中将为17个不同的雇主工作，从事5种不同的职业（work for 17 different employers over the course of their working life and have five different careers）。教育（Education），而不仅仅是在校园里获得的知识，将是Z世代职业轨迹的核心部分（will be a core part of Generation Z’s career trajectory）”，说明Z世代在未来的职业生涯中也会持续接受教育，第七段说到“就好像他们已经知道，自己的学位不会以同样的方式来定义他们（their degree won’t define them in the same way）”，说明定义Z世代的不再是学位，而是他们终身的学习。因此A选项“终身学习将定义他们。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“他们将成为合格的教育工作者。”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有；
C选项“学位将不再吸引他们。”，由“教育，而不仅仅是在校园里获得的知识（not just knowledge gained on campus），将是Z世代职业轨迹的核心部分”可知，文章只是强调终身学习的重要性，不代表学位已经失去了吸引力，属于过度推断；
D选项“他们对工作的选择会很有限。”，由“这一代人在其职业生涯中将为17个不同的雇主工作，从事5种不同的职业（work for 17 different employers over the course of their working life and have five different careers）”可知，Z世代对工作的选择是很丰富的，属于反向干扰。
【重点词汇】
crop /krɒp/ n. 一群人；一批人
millennial /mɪˈleniəl/ n. 千禧一代
wanting /ˈwɒntɪŋ/ adj. 缺乏的；不足的
devalue /ˌdiːˈvæljuː/ v. 降低……的价值；贬低
predecessor /ˈpriːdɪsesə(r)/ n. 前任；前辈
mindset /ˈmaɪndset/ n. 观念模式；思维倾向
scrap /skræp/ v. 废弃；取消
generalist /ˈdʒenrəlɪst/ n. 全才；通才
employable /ɪmˈplɔɪəbəl/ adj. 可雇用的
trajectory /trəˈdʒektəri/ n. 轨迹
classicist /ˈklæsɪsɪst/ n. 古典学者
weigh up 权衡；估量
social mobility 社会阶级流动
【长难句分析】
1. As the latest crop of students pen their undergraduate application form and weigh up their options, it may be worth considering just how the point, purpose and value of a degree has changed and what Generation Z need to consider as they start the third stage of their educational journey.
【结构分析】
【补充分析】
① 主句it may be worth considering中it是形式主语，真正的主语为后面how和what引导的两个主语从句；
② As the latest crop … their options是修饰整句话的时间状语从句；
③ as they start the third stage of their educational journey是修饰前面主语从句的时间状语从句；
④ of their educational journey是介词短语作后置定语，修饰the third stage。
【参考译文】当最新一批学生填写他们的本科申请表并权衡他们的选择时，也许值得考虑一下学位的意义、目的和价值发生了怎样的变化，以及Z世代在开始他们教育旅程的第三阶段时需要考虑什么。
2. It has been estimated that this generation, due to the pressures of technology, the wish for personal fulfillment and desire for diversity, will work for 17 different employers over the course of their working life and have five different careers.
【结构分析】
【补充分析】
① due to the pressures of technology, the wish for personal fulfillment and desire for diversity是原因状语，表示工作的原因；
② for 17 different employers表示工作的对象；
③ over the course of their working life是时间状语，表示工作的阶段。
【参考译文】据估计，由于科技的压力、对个人成就感的追求和对多样性的渴望，这一代人在其职业生涯中将为17个不同的雇主工作，从事5种不同的职业。
【全文翻译】
当最新一批学生填写他们的本科申请表并权衡他们的选择时，也许值得考虑一下学位的意义、目的和价值发生了怎样的变化，以及Z世代在开始他们教育旅程的第三阶段时需要考虑什么。
千禧一代被告知，如果你在学校表现良好，获得一个体面的学位，你就能过上好日子。但人们发现这一承诺未能兑现。随着学位的普及，它们的价值也开始降低。教育不再是社会阶级流动的可靠途径。如今，英国28%的毕业生从事不需要大学文凭的工作，这一比例是经合组织国家平均水平的两倍。
这并不是说获得学位没有意义，而是强调学位并不适合每个人，从中学教室到大学讲堂的转换不是必经之路，还有其他的选择。
值得庆幸的是，有迹象表明这已经发生了，Z世代寻求向他们千禧一代的前辈学习，尽管父母和老师往往仍然固守学位至上的思维定式。雇主们早就看到了雇佣中学毕业生的优势，他们往往证明自己比大学毕业生更敬业、更忠诚。许多人也看到了对某些职位取消学历要求的好处。
对于那些渴望获得学位的人来说，这可能是众多途径中的第一个。在这个通才时代，拥有特定的知识或技能是值得的。现在研究生的收入比本科生高出40%。当越来越多的人拥有一个学位时，拥有两个学位是明智的。
Z世代不太可能在18岁或21岁就完成学业；他们需要在整个职业生涯中不断提高技能，以保持就业能力。据估计，由于科技的压力、对个人成就感的追求和对多样性的渴望，这一代人在其职业生涯中将为17个不同的雇主工作，从事5种不同的职业。教育，而不仅仅是在校园里获得的知识，将是Z世代职业轨迹的核心部分。
老一辈人经常用现在时和指向个人身份的语气谈论他们的学位：“我是一个地理学家。”或者“我是一名古典学研究者。”他们的儿女绝不会说这样的话；就好像他们已经知道，自己的学位不会以同样的方式来定义他们。
