Work is a very important part of life in the United States. When the early Protestant immigrants came to this country, they brought the idea that work was the way to God and heaven. This attitude, the Protestant work ethic, still influences America today. Work is not only important for economic benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological needs, the feeling of doing something for the good of the society. Americans spend most of their lives working, being productive. For most Americans, their work defines them; they are what they do. What happens, then when a person can no longer work?
Most Americans stop working at age sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire; but leaving one’s job, whatever it is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Many retirees do not know how to use their time or they feel lost without jobs.
Retirement can also bring financial problems. Many people rely on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation is forcing prices higher each year; Social Security checks alone cannot cover Medicare (health care) and welfare (general assistance) but many senior citizens have to change their lifestyles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel, and other necessities.
Of course, many senior citizens are happy with retirement. They have time to spend with their families or to enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time; others do volunteer work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executives Association, even help young people to get started in new business. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events. There are many opportunities for retirees.
American society is only beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its senior citizens. The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income. They are building new housing, offering discounts in stores and museums and on buses, and providing other services, such as free courses, food service, and help with housework.
Retired citizens are a rapidly growing percentage of the population. This part of the population is very important and we must respond to their needs. After all, every citizen will be a senior citizen some day.
1.The early immigrants considered work ________.
2.Why do Americans like working? Because working ________.
3.We can safely put forward that retirees who ________.
4.According to the passage the government ________.
5.Which of the following is not steps taken for the benefit of senior citizens by the government?
问题1选项
A.too hard
B.important
C.pleasant
D.dull
问题2选项
A.doesn’t only mean money but it is also psychological
B.can make life more comfortable
C.can prove people to be independent
D.gives people funny
问题3选项
A.have no financial problems still want to earn more money
B.have financial problems still feel lost
C.have no financial problems still feel lost
D.have no financial problems feels it's hard to make ends meet
问题4选项
A.hadn’t paid attention to the retirees’ problems
B.has already solved a lot of retirees’ problems
C.has just begun to pay attention to the retirees’ problems
D.won’t pay attention to the retirees’ problems
问题5选项
A.New housing has been built.
B.The old are offered discounts in stores.
C.Senior citizens are provided free courses, food service.
D.None.
第1题:B
第2题:A
第3题:C
第4题:C
第5题:D
第1题:
【选项释义】
The early immigrants considered work ________. 早期移民认为工作________。
A. too hard A. 太辛苦
B. important B. 重要
C. pleasant C. 愉快
D. dull D. 乏味
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词early immigrants可以定位到文章第一段第二句“当早期的新教移民来到这个国家时,他们带来了工作是通往上帝和天堂之路(work was the way to God and heaven)的观念”,说明早期移民认为工作是很重要的。因此B选项“重要”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“太辛苦”,C选项“愉快”和D选项“乏味”在文中均没有提及,属于无中生有。
第2题:
【选项释义】
Why do Americans like working? Because working ________. 为什么美国人喜欢工作?因为工作________。
A. doesn’t only mean money but it is also psychological A. 不仅意味着收入,还意味着心理健康
B. can make life more comfortable B. 可以使生活更舒适
C. can prove people to be independent C. 可以证明人们是独 立的
D. gives people funny D. 给人们带来乐趣
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词Americans like working可以定位到文章第一段第四句“工作不仅对经济收益、薪水很重要,而且对社会和心理需求也很重要(not only important for economic benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological needs),即为社会做好事的感觉”,说明美国人喜欢工作的原因是不仅能带来经济收入,对心理也有好处。因此A选项“不仅意味着金钱,还意味着心理健康”正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“可以使生活更舒适”,C选项“可以证明人们是独 立的”和D选项“给人们带来乐趣”在文中均没有提及,属于无中生有。
第3题:
【选项释义】
We can safely put forward that retirees who ________. 我们可以肯定地说,________。
A. have no financial problems still want to earn more money A. 没有经济问题的退休人员仍然想赚更多的钱
B. have financial problems still feel lost B. 有经济问题的退休人员仍然感到迷茫
C. have no financial problems still feel lost C. 没有经济问题的退休人员仍然感到迷茫
D. have no financial problems feels it’s hard to make ends meet D. 没有经济问题的退休人员感到入不敷出
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词retirees可以定位到文章第二段最后一句“许多退休人员不知道如何使用他们的时间(do not know how to use their time),或者在没有工作的情况下感到迷失(feel lost without jobs)”,说明这些退休人员虽然没有经济问题,但仍然感到很迷茫。因此C选项“没有经济问题的退休人员仍然感到迷茫”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“没有经济问题的退休人员仍然想赚更多的钱”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有;
B选项“有经济问题的退休人员仍然感到迷茫”,由原文可知感到迷茫的是没有经济问题的退休人员,属于反向干扰;
D选项“没有经济问题的退休人员感到入不敷出”,由原文可知感到入不敷出的是有经济问题的退休人员,属于反向干扰。
第4题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage the government ________. 根据这篇文章,政府________。
A. hadn’t paid attention to the retirees’ problems A. 没有关注退休人员的问题
B. has already solved a lot of retirees’ problems B. 已经解决了很多退休人员的问题
C. has just begun to pay attention to the retirees’ problems C. 刚刚开始关注退休人员的问题
D. won’t pay attention to the retirees’ problems D. 不会关注退休人员的问题
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词government可以定位到文章第五段第一、二句“美国社会刚刚开始关注老年公民的特殊身体和情感需求(beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its senior citizens)。政府正在采取措施(The government is taking steps)来缓解有限收入的问题”,说明政府刚刚开始措施来缓解退休者的有限收入问题。因此C选项“刚刚开始关注退休人员的问题”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“没有关注退休人员的问题”和D选项“不会关注退休人员的问题”,由The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income.(政府正在采取措施来缓解有限收入的问题。)可知,政府已经开始关注退休人员的问题,属于反向干扰;
B选项“已经解决了很多退休人员的问题”,由原文可知,政府只是开始采取措施来缓解退休者的问题,但不代表已经解决了大部分问题,属于过度推断。
第5题:
【选项释义】
Which of the following is not steps taken for the benefit of senior citizens by the government? 以下哪项不是政府为老年人的利益而采取的措施?
A. New housing has been built. A. 新建了住房。
B. The old are offered discounts in stores. B. 商店为老年人提供折扣。
C. Senior citizens are provided free courses, food service. C. 为老年人提供免费课程和餐饮服务。
D. None. D. 没有。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词steps taken for the benefit of senior citizens可以定位到文章第五段最后一句“他们正在建造新的住房(building new housing),提供商店、博物馆和公交车上的折扣(offering discounts),以及提供其他服务,如免费课程、食品服务(free courses, food service)和家务帮助”,说明新建住房、提供折扣和提供免费课程和餐饮服务都属于政府为老年人的利益而采取的措施。因此D选项“没有”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“新建了住房。”,B选项“商店为老年人提供折扣。”和C选项“为老年人提供免费课程和餐饮服务。”均属于政府为老年人的利益而采取的措施,属于反向干扰。