Over the last 25 years, British society has changed a great deal or at least many parts of it have. In some ways, however, very little lias changed, particularly where attitudes are concerned. Ideas about social class—whether a person is "working-class" or "middle-class"—is one area in which changes have been extremely slow.
In the past, the working-class tended to be paid less than middle-class people, such as teachers and doctors. As a result of this and also of the fact that workers’jobs were generally much less secure, distinct differences in life-styles and attitudes came into existence. The typical working man would collect his wages on Friday evening and then, it was widely believed, having given his wife her "housekeeping", would go out and squander the rest on beer and betting.
The stereotype of what a middle-class man did with his money was perhaps nearer the truth. He was and still is inclined to take a longer-term view. Not only did he regard buying a house as an important thing, but he also considered the education of his children as extremely important. Both of these provided him and his family with security. Only in very few cases did workers have the opportunity (or the education and training) to make such long-term plans.
Nowadays, a great deal has changed. In a large number of cases factory workers earn as much, if not more, than their middle-class supervisors. Social security and laws, combined with a general rise in the standard of living since the mid-fifties of the 20th century, have made it less necessary than before to worry about "tomorrow". Working-class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority they had in the past. In fact there has been a growing tendency in the past few years for the middle-classes to feel slightly ashamed of their position.
The changes in both life-styles and attitudes are probably most easily seen amongst younger people. They generally tend to share very similar tastes in music and clothes, they spend their money in having a good time, and save for holidays or longer-term plans when necessary. There seems to be much less difference than in previous generations. Nevertheless, we still have a wide gap between the well-paid (whatever the type of job they may have) and the low-paid. As long as this gap exists, there will always be a possibility that new conflicts and jealousies will emerge, or rather that the old conflicts will re-appear, but between different groups.
1.Which of the following is seen as the cause of class differences in the past?
2.The writer seems to suggest that the description of（ ）is closer to truth?
3.According to the passage, which of the following is not a typical feature of the middle class?
4.Working-class people's sense of security increased as a result of all the following factors except?
5.Which of the following statements is incorrect?
问题1选项
A.life style and occupation
B.Attitude and income
C.income and job security
D.job security and hobbies
问题2选项
A.middle -class ways of spending money
B.working-class ways of spending the weekend
C.working-class drinking habits
D.middle-class attitudes
问题3选项
A.desiring for security
B.Making long term plans
C.having priorities in life
D.saving money
问题4选项
A.better social security
B.more job opportunities
C.higher living standard
D.better legal protection.
问题5选项
A.Changes are slowly taking place in all sectors of the British society.
B.The gap between working-class and middle-class young people is narrowing.
C.difference in income will remain but those in occupation will disappear.
D.middle-class people may sometimes feel inferior to working-class people.
第1题:C
第2题:A
第3题:D
第4题:B
第5题:A
1.细节事实题。第二段指出: In the past, the working-class tended to be paid less than middle-class people, such as teachers and doctors. As a result of this and also of the fact that workers’jobs were generally much less secure, distinct differences in life-styles and attitudes came into existence (过去，工人阶级的工资往往低于中产阶级，如教师和医生。由于这一点，也由于工人的工作普遍不太稳定，生活方式和态度出现了明显的差异),因此选C “收入和工作稳定”。
2.细节事实题。第三段指出: The stereotype of what a middle-class man did with his money was perhaps nearer the truth (中产阶级花钱的旧模式或许更接近真实),因此A项“中产阶级花钱的方式”正确。
3.细节事实题。A: 渴望安全,C: 在生活中有优先考虑的事情,第三段指出: Not only did he regard buying a house as an important thing, but he also considered the education of his children as extremely important. Both of these provided him and his family with security (他(中产阶级) 不仅将买房子看成是一件重要的事情，且他还认为自己孩子的教育非常重耍。这两个方而为他和自己的家庭提供了安全),因此A和C属于中产阶级的典型特点。B: 制定长远的计划,由第三段“He was and still is inclined to take a longer-term view(他（即中产阶级）过去且现在仍然倾向于去采取更长远的观点)”可知B项属于中产阶级的典型特点。只有D项“攒钱”没提及,故选D。
4.细节事实题。A:更好的社会保障,B: 更多的工作机会,C:更高的生活水平,D:更好的法律保护,第三段指出: Social security and laws, combined with a general rise in the standard of living since the mid-fifties of the 20th century, have made it less necessary than before to worry about "tomorrow"(社会保障和法律，以及 20 世纪以来生活水平的普遍提高，让大家相比以前更没有必要去担心‘明天’),故A、C、D属于导致工人阶级安全感提升的因素。B项文章未提及。
5.细节事实题。A:英国社会的各个方面都正在发生缓慢变化,第一段指出: Over the last 25 years, British society has changed a great deal or at least many parts of it have. In some ways, however, very little has changed, particularly where attitudes are concerned (过去 25 年里，英国社会发生了很大变化或至少它的很多方而发生了很大的变化，但有些方而却没什么变化),因此A项与原文不符。B: 工人阶级和中产阶级年轻人之间的差距正在缩小,由最后一段“The changes in both life-styles and attitudes are probably most easily seen amongst younger people(（工人阶级与中产阶级）在生活方式和态度上的改变可能最容易在年轻人身上被看到)”可知B与原文相符。C: 收人差异将仍然存在，但是在职业上的那些差异将会消失,最后一段指出: Nevertheless, we still have a wide gap between the well-paid （whatever the type of job they may have） and the low-paid(然而，我们在收入高的人（无论他们可能有的工作种类是什么）和收人差的人之间仍然将会有大的落差),因此C与原文相符。D: 中产阶级有时感觉不如工人阶级,第四段指出: In fact there has been a growing tendency in the past few years for the middle-classes to feel slightly ashamed of their position (实际上，在过去数年里中产阶级为自己的位置感到有些羞愧的倾向在不断增加),因此D项与原文相符。故答案选A。
